Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1825, 1882-1931
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RUNCHIE, n., adj. Also runsheoch; runcy.
I. n. A coarsely-built or -behaved person; in 1931 (eclectic) usage "a muscular fellow", a sturdy child.Bnff. 1882 Francisque-Michel 18:
Runcy is still applied in Banffshire . . . to a woman of coarse manners and doubtful character.Edb. 1900 E. H. Strain Elmslie's Drag-Net 4:
One woman servant "a coarse runsheoch like her mistress."Abd. 1931 Abd. Press and Jnl. (19 Feb.):
Nae gantin gomerals i' their raws, Fordweeblit an' forgrutten, But runshachs yet.
II. adj. Raw-boned; rank in growth, e.g. of vegetables that have gone to seed or become tough or harsh in taste (Kcd. 1951 People's Journal (26 May)), poss. a confusion with Ramsh.Fif. 1825 Jam.:
"A runchie queyn", a strong raw-boned woman.
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"Runchie n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/runchie>
