▪ I. rache, ratch, n.1 Obs. exc. arch.
(rætʃ)
Forms: 3–6 racch-, (5 rachch-), 4–5 rach, 4–7, 9 rache; 5–6 ratch-, 7–8 ratch.
[OE. ræcc, related to ON. rakki dog.]
A hunting-dog which pursues its prey by scent.
After c 1530 only in Sc. use: cf. quot. 1576.
| c 1000 Ags. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 276/4 Molosus, roþhund. Unfer, griᵹhund. Bruccus, ræcc. c 1200 Ormin 13505 Rihht alls an hunnte takeþþ der Wiþþ hise ȝæpe racchess. c 1275 Serving Christ 71 in O.E. Misc. 92 Þe ronke racches þat ruskit þe ron. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 274 Brocours that renne aboute Lich unto racches in a route. 1433 Lydg. St. Edmund ii. 881 With blast of hornys, with rachchis & with houndys. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 422/1 Ratche, hownde, odorinsecus. 1526 Skelton Magnyf. 592 Here is a leysshe of ratches to renne a hare. c 1570 Satir. Poems Reform. xviii. 23 Throw out this Realme lyke Ratches se ȝe range. 1576 Fleming tr. Caius' Eng. Dogges (1880) 7 Albeit some of this sort in English be called Brache, in Scottishe Rache, the cause hereof resteth in the shee sex and not in the generall kinde. [1602 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. ii. v. 873 Small Ladies puppies, raches, and Bastards.] a 1733 Ramsay Highland Lassie iv, With cockit gun and ratches tenty, To drive the deer out of their den. 1829 Scott Demonol. iv. 131 Three raches, or hounds of scent, followed her closely. 1875 J. Veitch Tweed 56 By her side seven raches running free. |
| transf. 1597 J. Melvill Diary (1842) 428 Craftie men..Wha houndit furthe these ratches under night. |
| Comb. 1732 Macfarlane Geneal. Coll. (1900) 306 Three Wolves Heads erased supported by two Ratch hounds. |
Hence † ratchet (? after brachet from brach).
| 1563 Becon Acts Christ & Antichr. Wks. III. 400 Antichrist hunteth the wilde dere..with houndes and ratchettes ronning. |
▪ II. rache, ratch, n.2 Obs. exc. dial.
(reɪtʃ, rætʃ)
Forms: 6 ratche, 6–8 rache, 8 raich, 7, 9 rach, 9 dial. raitch, ratch. See also reach.
[Of obscure etym.; cf. race n.5 and rake n.2]
A (white) line or streak down a horse's face.
| 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. (1598) §68 Of markes..a white snyp, or a white rache is good. Ibid., A blacke Horse, so he haue white feet, white ratche, and white feather. 1558 Wills & Inv. N.C. (Surtees 1835) 173 My blacke geldinge hauing a white Rache in his forehead. 1610 Markham Masterp. i. x. 27 A blacke with white starre, white rache or white foote. 1689 N. Riding Rec. VII. 99 One bay guelding with..a white rache down his face. 1725 Lond. Gaz. No. 6403/3 A black Filly,..with a Raich down her face. 1811 Sporting Mag. XXXVII. 135 He is a good chesnut, no white, except a rach down his face. 1833 New Sporting Mag. V. 278/2 A dingy looking bay filly, with a great white ratch down her face. 1855 Robinson Whitby Gloss., Raitch, a white line down a horse's face. |
▪ III. † rache, v.1 Obs. rare.
[Of obscure origin.]
intr. and refl. ? To hasten, make ready in haste.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 1239 Meliager with hys men..rachen with þair route & ryden bott a while. Ibid. 2031 Alexander..Rachez hym radly to ride. |
▪ IV. † rache, v.2 Obs.—1
[a. OF. racher, aphetic f. arracher arrache.]
trans. To pull off.
| c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 5689 His hed was bare, his helme was rached. |
▪ V. rache
obs. f. reach v.