Sc. Forms: 5 kerche, (courchie), 5–6 courch(e, curche, (6 cowrtche), 7 kerch, (8 kirch), 7– curch. [An erroneous singular of curches, repr. OF. couvrechés, -chiés, pl. of couvrechef: see COVERCHIEF, KERCHIEF.]
A covering for the head; a kerchief; ‘a square piece of linen used in former times by women, instead of a cap or mutch’ (Jamieson).
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 285. She hyr wolde arayin ful porely … and … Up on hyr hede leyn a foule kerche.
1457. Sc. Acts Jas. II., c. 71. On theer heads short curches … Courchies of theer awin making.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, I. 241. A soudly courche our hed and nek leit fall.
15[?]. Peebles to Play. Ane said, ‘My curches are not press’d.’
1530. Inv., in Nugæ Derelictæ (1880), x. 9. Item xxi neipkins and brest cowrtchis. Itm thre nek cowrtchis.
1698. M. Martin, Voy. Kilda (1749), 50. The Kerch, or Head-dress worn by her self.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., III. v. note. The snood was exchanged for the curch, toy, or coif, when a Scottish lass passed, by marriage, into the matron state.
1854. Mrs. Oliphant, Magd. Hepburn, I. 150. An old woman with long grey locks escaping from her curch.
