Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
‡GUTCHER, n. Also †gou(t)cher; gowcher (Per. c.1916), gutser (Sc. 1900 E.D.D.), ¶gutchyre; gatshird (Sh.); geetcher (Cai.). [Sc. ′gʌtʃər; Cai. ′gi:tʃər]
‡1. A grandfather (Cai., Kcd., Lnk. 1955). Mostly liter. Also in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.T.Misc. 39:
My Gutcher left a good braid Sword, Tho it be auld and rusty.Abd. 1748 R. Forbes Ajax 6:
An' Aeacus my gutcher was, Fa now in hell sits jidge.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 3:
Sin my auld gutcher first the warld knew, Fouk had na fund the Indies, whare it [tea] grew.Ayr. 1796 Burns Lass o' Ecclefechan i.:
Bye attour, my gutcher has a heich house and a laich ane.Rxb. 1815 J. Ruickbie Poems 201:
While other Barons a' their land Gat frae their gutchers free.Sh. 1822 S. Hibbert Descr. Sh. 588:
It was formerly said of the Foula man, — “his gutcher guid before, his father guid before, and he must expect to go over the Sneug too.”Ags. 1867 G. W. Donald Poems 7:
Ye're like my goutcher spats and breeks, Clean oot o' fashion.Ork. 1904 Dennison Sketches 19:
Her gutcher on dat side o' the hoose . . . was a deevil, gin ever de wur een on yird.Sc. c.1925 R. Thomas Sandie McWhustler's Waddin' 16:
His gutcher bade in Dundee, forbye twa uncles an' a wheen mair freens.
†2. “A relation, a cousin” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., gatshird).
[O.Sc. has gutsher, c.1635, gutsowr, 1523, later forms of guchar, c.1550, gudschir, 1513, gudsyre, c.1420, from guid + sire.]
