▪ I. † fouch Obs.
Forms: 4 fourche, 5 forche, 6 fowche, 7 fouch(e. Also furch.
[ME. fourche, a. OF. fourche, forche, lit. ‘fork’: cf. forche.]
1. ? The fork of the legs.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1824 Wiþ fet in fourche [v.r. fouche] ilk oþer tok [said of wrestlers]. |
2. The hind quarters of a deer; also pl.
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1357 Þay..henged þenne a[y]þer bi hoȝes of þe fourchez. 1486 Bk. St. Albans F iij b, And after the Ragge boon cuttis euen also The forchis. 1491 [see furch]. c 1550 Wyl Bucke His Test. B 3 b, For to cut out kindely the fowche. Take of the buttockes..let both the loynes sitte together..and leue therin the kidneys. 1631 R. Brathwait Whimzies, Forrester 36 To present some..gentleman in his masters name, with a side or a fouch. 1671 in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. vii. (1890) 382 Given to Mr. Bellingham's man that brought a fouch of venison, 2s. |
Hence fouch v. trans., to divide a buck into four quarters (Halliwell).
▪ II. fouch
obs. form of vouch v.