▪ I. keach, v. Obs. exc. dial.
(kiːtʃ)
Forms: 4 keche, kecche, kyche, 6 kiche, 6–7 keech, 7 keatch, ketch, 7– keach.
[Of obscure origin: cf. cleach v. (sense 3).]
trans. To take up (water, etc.) with a shallow vessel; to scoop up, ladle out: = cleach v. 3.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VIII. 235 Ye schal kecche up water [v.rr. kyche, cleche]. 1598 Florio, Intingere, to dip in, to kiche up [1611 to keech up]. 1611 Ibid., Attingere,..to draw or keach water. c 1682 J. Collins Salt & Fishery 89 The Oyle will swim at top, from whence it may be keeched with a pot. 1881 Oxfordsh. Gloss. Suppl., Keach up, to take up water by ladling. |
Hence ˈkeaching vbl. n., in Comb. keaching-ladle; keaching-net = cleaching-net.
| 1624–5 Althorp MS. in Simpkinson The Washingtons (1860) App. p. lix, For mending the drag nett & for 2 new keatching netts. 1633–4 Ibid. p. lxiii, To the tinker for mending the keeching ladle in the kitching. |
▪ II. keach, keagh
variants of kiaugh, Sc.