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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SLOTCH, v., n. Also sloatch, sloch, and voiced form slodge. See also Slatch, Sludge. [slotʃ]

I. v. 1. To move or walk in a slouching hang-dog manner, to drag the feet in walking (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B. sloatch; Fif., Lth., Rxb. 1970).Slk. 1830 Hogg Queer Book (1832) 169:
Coming slowly slodging o' the lea.Lth. 1888 D. Carmichael Cosietattle 36:
A hallanshaker slochin' chield, That wants for neither bite or bield.Sc. 1936 J. G. Horne Flooer o' Ling 12:
Twa billies on the hunt for wark, Gaed sloatchin up a ferm-toon road.

2. To eat or drink in a messy way, slobber, “to eat like a pig” (Bwk. 1942 Wettstein).

II. n. 1. A lazy, slouching person, a sloven, lay-about, ne'er-do-well (Slk., Rxb. 1825 Jam., slodge, sloatch; Cld. 1880 Jam.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Lth., Rxb. 1970).Lth. 1888 D. Carmichael Cosietattle 227:
A dandy was he ance and gay, A drucken lazy slotch the day.s.Sc. 1898 E. Hamilton Mawkin ii.:
You great thowless slotch, wake up, man.

2. A greedy person, a gourmand, a voracious and messy eater (Bwk. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 169, a greedy slotch).Bwk. 1856 G. Henderson Pop. Rhymes 90:
He's a slotch! he's a slotch! He wad slouter up a'.

3. A slobbering noise, “the sound a calf, makes drinking” (Abd. 1913).