[Of obscure origin; possibly f. LATCH v.1] A craving, longing.

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1796.  Grose’s Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Letch, a whim of the amorous kind, out of the common way.

2

1814.  Monthly Mag., XXXVIII. 126/2. [Somerset wds.] Latch, fancy, wish.

3

1830.  De Quincey, Bentley, Wks. 1857, VII. 40. Some people have a ‘letch’ for unmasking impostors, or for avenging the wrongs of others.

4

1834.  Sir H. Taylor, 1st Pt. Artevelde, II. vi. 134. Then will the Earl … pardon us our letch for liberty.

5

1862.  Sat. Rev., 4 Jan., 5. The letch for blood which characterizes the savage.

6

1870.  Swinburne, Ess. & Stud. (1875), 81. No trace … of the fretful and fruitless prurience of soul which would fain grasp … a creed beyond its power of possession,—no letch after Gods dead or unborn.

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1893.  National Observer, 23 Dec., 141/2. The unconquerable letch he had upon sombre sorceries.

8