quaich, quaigh Sc.
(kweɪx)
Forms: α. 7–8 quech, 7, 9 queich, 8– quegh, 9 quaigh, quaich, (quoich). β. 8 quaff, queff, coif.
[a. Gael. cuach cup, OIr. c{uacu}ach, prob. ad. L. caucus (Gr. καῦκα), whence also W. cawg. The β-forms are peculiar, as there is no general tendency in Sc. to substitute f for ch.]
A kind of shallow drinking-cup formerly common in Scotland, usually made of small wooden staves hooped together and having two ears or handles, but sometimes fitted with a silver rim, or even made entirely of that metal. Also in extended use: a drinking vessel or trophy of similar design.
| α 1673 Acc. Bk. Sir J. Foulis (1894) 14 A quech weighting 18 unce and 10 drop. 1697 Inv. in Scott. N. & Q. (1900) Dec. 90/2 Three round queichs without luggs. 1715 Pennecuik Descr. Tweeddale, etc. ii. 71 A great Quech, which they were made to Drink out of. 1808 Scott Marm. iii. xxvi, The quaighs were deep, the liquor strong. 1849 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. II. 61 Passing a cooper's shop..I stept in and bought two little quaighs. 1884 Queen Victoria More Leaves 142 A silver quaich out of which Prince Charles Edward had drunk. 1971 Timber Trades Jrnl. 14 Aug. 54/3 Play in the morning will be for the Brownlee trophy against bogey under handicap and for the Granton quaich for the best net score. 1975 Listener 5 June 728/2, I drink a ceremonial draught from an immense, lacquered quaich [at Koriyama, Japan]. 1976 D. Marlowe Nightshade iii. 44 Lapotre had arrived accompanied by a tall negro... He was a houngan, a voodoo priest... Lapotre stopped before a woman..carrying a souvenir (a mahogany quaich). |
| attrib. 1703 Inv. in Scott. N. & Q. (1900) Dec. 90/2 A big quech cup with three lugs. |
| β 1711 Ramsay On Maggy Johnstoun ix, Sae brawly did a pease-scon toast Biz i' the queff. c 1730 Burt Lett. N. Scotl. (1818) I. 157 It is often drank..out of a cap, or coif as they call it; this is a woodden dish [etc.]. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. 3 Sept., The spirits were drunk out of a silver quaff. |