Forms: see TOUCH v. [Originally a. OF. touche, f. toucher to TOUCH: cf. Pr., It. tocca stroke, blow, touch; also Prov. toc, It. tocco knock, stroke; f. toccare to hit, strike. In some later uses, directly from TOUCH v.]
I. Literal and directly connected senses.
1. The action or an act of touching (with the hand, finger, or other part of the body); exercise of the faculty of feeling upon a material object. † In quot. 1340, ? a tactile organ (obs.). In quot. 1591, Hold, grasp, embrace (nonce-use).
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 779. Fyngers and taes, fote and hande, Alle his touches [MS. Lansd. lymmes] er tremblande.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 136. For he … preide, That wherupon his hond he leide, It scholde thurgh his touche anon Become gold.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVI. vii. (Bodl. MS.). Quyke siluer … semeþ ful colde in touche.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. iv. 36. The Harpyes … with thair laithlie tuiche all thing file thai.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., V. iv. 60. Ruffian: let goe that rude vnciuill touch.
1614. Purchas, Pilgrimage, IX. vii. (ed. 2), 864. He toucheth the face and breast with cold touches.
1681. H. More, Exp. Dan., iv. Notes 120. He healed the Blind and the Lame with Spittle and touch.
1705. Lond. Gaz., No. 4126/3. They never had before received the Royal Touch.
1841–71. T. R. Jones, Anim. Kingd. (ed. 4), 464. The antennæ … may be regarded as special instruments of touch.
1842. Tennyson, ‘Break, break, break,’ iii. But O for the touch of a vanish’d hand!
1898. G. B. Shaw, Widowers’ Houses, I. 6. The porter … receives it with a submissive touch to his cap.
b. euphem. Sexual contact.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2985 (Cott.). Fra toche of hir i saued þe.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. 2860. Sche Ay kepte hir clene from touche of any man.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 141. Who is as free from touch or soyle with her As she from one vngot.
c. Med. Examination by feeling, esp. of a cavity of the body; palpation.
1805. Med. Jrnl., XIV. 245. Had we … trusted to the touch, it might have been said we were deceived.
1860. Mayne, Expos. Lex., Touch … Obstet. Term for the examination of the womb, or mouth and neck of the womb.
d. Milit. Contact between the elbows of a rank of soldiers; see quots. and cf. TOUCH v. 2 g.
1877. Man. Field Artillery Exerc., 23. The right hand or left-hand man being first placed, the remainder will fall in in line one after the other, closing lightly towards him, turning the elbow slightly outwards. Soldiers must be carefully instructed in the ‘Touch,’ as, in this formation, it is the principal guide when marching. Ibid., 25. During the march … the dressing is kept by the touch.
e. Within or in touch, near enough to touch or be touched; within reach (of); accessible; also fig.
1854. S. Dobell, Balder, v. 29. Tottering … In touch of the inestimable prize.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Note-Bks., I. 119. The rough-hewn roof was within touch.
1896. Times, 16 Dec., 5/3. [He] is not yet within touch of the telegraph.
† f. The act of touching at a port (TOUCH v. 11); a passing call during a voyage. Obs. rare–1.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 1331. His first touch was upon the Island of Cerigo.
g. A boys’ game in which one player touches another, who then chases and tries to catch him; in full touch-and-run; also allusively (cf. TOUCH AND GO). Cf. TIG.
1815. Lady Granville, Lett. (1894), I. 80. His favourite has hit the line between good-humoured frankness and vulgarity, just touch and run.
1912. Daily News, 4 Nov., 2/2. The lad was playing ‘touch-and-run’ with a number of others.
2. The act, fact, or state of touching or being touched (of inanimate objects, or as an involuntary act: see TOUCH v. 3); contact.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 252. With-outen towche of any tothe he tult in his þrote.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. (1590), 149 b. The touch of the cold water made a prettie kinde of shrugging come ouer her bodie.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. ii. 273. And not one vessell scape the dreadfull touch Of merchant-marring rocks?
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 520. Part incentive reed Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 11. The flax That falls asunder at the touch of fire.
1874. O’Shaughnessy, Music & Moonlight, 40. Her passing touch was death to all, Her passing look a blight.
† b. Geom. Contact; point of contact. Obs.
a. 1400. in Halliwell, Rara Mathem. (1841), 62. Counte þe poyntes fro þe begynnyng of þe side of þe vmbre to þe touche of þe perpendicle.
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., I. xxix. In the very poynte of the touche muste I make an angle.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, III. def. iii. Such a touch of circles is euer in one poynt onely.
c. A small quantity of some substance brought into contact with a surface so as to leave its mark or effect; a dash, as of paint; a mark or stain so produced. See also 10.
In quot. 1581 with figurative allusion: cf. PITCH sb.1 4, and quot. 1382 s.v. TOUCH v. 1. So a touch of the tar-brush: see TAR-BRUSH b, quot. 1864.
1581. Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 24. Of one selfe pitch, we all haue a touch.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 31. I … glew’d them to the object-plate, as I do stronger Insects with a touch of Turpentine.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xvii. Maybe a touch o’ a blackit cork, or a slake o’ paint.
d. A very close approach, a ‘shave’: cf. TOUCH v. 14, TOUCHER 4.
1866. Dickens, Mugby Junction, 27/1. The next instant the hind coach passed my engine by a shave. It was the nearest touch I ever saw.
e. No touch to (U.S. colloq.): ‘nowhere near,’ nothing approaching to.
1838. Haliburton, Clockm., Ser. II. vi. (1862), 206. Our sea sarpant was no touch to it. Ibid. (1840), Letter Bag, ii. 18. You ab seen fourth July day,… well he [is] no touch to it.
3. That sense by which a material object is perceived by means of the contact with it of some part of the body; the most general of the bodily senses, diffused through all parts of the skin, but (in man) specially developed in the tips of the fingers and the lips.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 537. Þanne haue y tynt all my tast, touche and assaie!
1599. Davies, Immort. Soul, ccxxii. By touch the first pure qualities we learn Which quicken all things, hot, cold, moist, and dry.
a. 1704. Locke, Elem. Nat. Philos., xi. (1754), 50. The fifth and last of our senses is touch; a sense spread over the whole body, tho’ it be most eminently placed in the ends of the fingers.
1764. Reid, Inquiry, vi. § 8. 213. That figure and that extension which are objects of touch have been tortured ten thousand ways for twenty centuries.
1851. Carpenter, Man. Phys. (ed. 2), 551. There is strong reason to regard the sense of Taste as only a refined kind of Touch, combined with the sense of Smell.
b. The sensation caused by touching something (considered as an attribute of the thing); tactile quality, feel.
1674. Dryden, Epil. opening of New House, 4. A Country Lip may have the Velvet touch.
1804. J. Grahame, Sabbath (1805), 37. The smooth birch With rind of silken touch.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 1202. Most decide by ‘the touch,’ that is, the feel and appearance of a drop of the syrup … drawn into a thread between the thumb and fore-finger.
1844. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., V. I. 259. The first token … for the purpose of ascertaining the feeding properties of an ox, is technically called the touch.
4. A hit, knock, stroke, blow; esp. a very slight blow or stroke.
[Quot. 1297 here appears to be the earliest example of the word in Eng. and perh. shows the original sense, as ‘hit, stroke, blow.’]
In quot. c. 1375, ? a slight wound or abrasion such as might be produced by a blow or scratch.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 12020. So þat þe erl of wareine slou atte verste touche Biuore þe iustises atte bench sir alein de la souche.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 14012 (Fairf.). Þer ho fande any touche of sare [Cott. ani breck or sare; Trin. chyn or soore] Wiþ hir þingus anoynt hit þare.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., 605 (Thornton MS.). Swylke a touche at þat tyme he taughte hym in tene.
1581. T. Howell, Deuises (1879), 216. For some perchance will byde a toutch or two, And will not seeme to flye when you shall fall.
1879. F. W. Robinson, Coward Consc., II. xvii. ‘It requires the finest touch,’ said Mr. Slitherwick, shutting one eye to admire the position of the balls, ‘one of your very best touches, Mr. Oliver.’
b. fig. A ‘hit,’ stroke (of wit, satire, etc.); a ‘knock’; a ‘blow.’
1522. World & Child (1817), C j. How sayeste thou now folye hast thou not a touche?
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 1144. To whom soon mov’d with touch of blame thus Eve.
c. 1720. Prior, Paulo Purganti, 29. It yet may feel the nicer touch Of Wycherley’s or Congreve’s wit.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, II. v. There was a hard touch for his Grace,… in the concluding sentence of the Don.
II. Technical and allied senses.
* Relating to the touchstone.
5. The action or process of testing the quality of gold or silver by rubbing it upon a touchstone. [So OF. touche, It. tocco.]
1436. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 187. Whereof was fyned metalle gode and clene, At the touche, no bettere coude be sene.
1587. Mirr. Mag., Runa, ii. Good metall bides the touch that trieth out the gold.
1686. W. De Britaine, Hum. Prud., xx. 94. He is like Gold, which hath too much Allay, that feareth the Touch.
1837. Whittock, etc., Bk. Trades (1842), 279. This test, by the touch, is performed at the present day…. Touch needles are small bars made of compound metals, the proportions whereof are accurately marked on each.
b. An official mark or stamp upon gold or silver indicating that it has been tested, and is of standard fineness; also, a die, punch, or stamp for impressing this. Also, an official mark stamped upon pewter.
1423. [see TOUCH v. 8 b].
1443. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), II. 132. A quart pot of silver with the touche of Parys.
1522. Will J. Surdevall (Somerset Ho.). Which spones hath the toche of the Goldesmythes.
1526–7. in Welch, Hist. Pewterers’ Co. (1902), I. 118. A fyn for deliueryng vessell vn-markyt wt his towch … v s. [1564–1750 ibid. passim.]
a. 1553. Udall, Royster D., II. ii. (Arb.), 34. If he haue not one Lumbardes touche, my lucke is bad.
1594. Plat, Jewell-h., III. 79. Plate as either carieth no touch, or so old a touch as the buier shall not bee acquainted withall.
1697. View Penal Laws, 142. If the Keeper of the Touch mark such harness with the Leopards head.
1852. A. Ryland, Assay of Gold & Silver, 38. The Touch is used in the old Statutes to denote in some places the Standard, in some the punch used in marking the wares, and in others the mark impressed upon the plate.
1860. J. Scarth, 12 Yrs. China, 116. Of the enormous amounts of gold … the greater part is guaranteed by a certain touch.
c. The quality or fineness of gold or silver (or other metal) as tested with the touchstone and indicated by the official mark. [Cf. OF. touche de Paris, etc.]
a. 1325. MS. Rawl. B. 520, lf. 53 b. Þat is to witen golde of certein touche. Ibid. Ant þat non ne wurche worse gold þan þe touche of paris.
1465. Paston Lett., I. 134. j. herneyse complete of the touche of Milleyn.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XXXIII. ix. II. 479. An act … for the proofe and allowance of silver deniers, what touch and what poise they should have.
1697. Observ. on Money & Coin, 9. Gold shall be of the fineness of the Touch of Paris.
1766. T. Brooks, Coins E. Indies, 6. 1 Madrass Rupee … is Country Touch 97/8. China Touch 983/4.
1908. H. B. Morse, Trade Chinese Emp., 149. ‘Pure silver’ of the Kuping tael touch is actually 987 fine when reduced to the Western standard of chemically pure silver.
d. fig. Quality, kind, sort, ‘stamp.’ In quot. 1878 transf. Quality or degree of purity (of opium).
1388. Pol. Poems (Rolls) I. 274. Fresch of the newe towch, incedunt ridiculose, Lityl or noght in her powch, pascuntur deliciose.
1579. J. Stubbes, Gaping Gulf, A vij. To be of one assaie or touche with the idolatrous and trayterous Israelits.
1607. Shaks., Cor., IV. i. 49. Come my sweet wife, my deerest Mother, and My Friends of Noble touch.
1821. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. Imperfect Sympathies. He never stoops to catch a glittering something … before he quite knows whether it be true touch or not.
1878. Baber, Rep. Chinese Opium (Parl. Paper Eng. C. 3378, 1882, 29). The advantage of ‘touch,’ or percentage of extract, possessed by the Indian drug.
† 6. Short for touchstone (see TOUCHSTONE 2); esp. applied to black marble or some similar black stone used in monumental work. Obs. [So OF. touche for pierre de touche (Godef.).]
a. 1509. Will. of Hen. VII. (Parker, Gloss. Archit., 1845). In which place we wol, that … be made a Towmbe of Stone called Touche, sufficient in largieur for us booth.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 96 b. Gates all like Masonrie, of White and Blacke, like Touche and White Merbell.
1577. Stanyhurst, Descr. Irel., in Holinshed (1808), VI. 41. Such notable quarries of greie marble and touch.
c. 1625. Bacon, Will, Wks. 1874, XIX. 541. Also the armour, and also all tables of marble and towch.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, York (1662), II. 186. Vulgar eyes confound the inlayings made of black Marble … with Touch, Geat, and Ebony.
1665. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 143. Several parts of it were as bright and splendent as Touch or Steel-mirrour.
7. fig. (from 5). An act of, or thing that serves for, testing; a test, trial, proof; a criterion, ‘touchstone.’ Now chiefly in phr. to put to the touch.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, iii. (1887), 12. I will binde vpon proofe, and let triall be the tuche.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. ii. 8. Ah Buckingham, now doe I play the Touch, To trie if thou be currant Gold indeed.
1624. Quarles, Job, vii. med. xiii. Affliction is the Touch, whereby we proove, Whether ’t be Gold, or guilt.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 206/1. Verity is not ashamed of the Light, nor afraid to come to the touch.
1706. Kennett, Compl. Hist. Eng., III. 561/1. That when it came to the Touch, they wou’d never bear the Brunt of a Battle.
1886. Stevenson, Kidnapped, 10. Till I had put the matter to the touch of proof.
** In instrumental music.
8. Mus. The act or manner of touching or handling a musical instrument, so as to bring out its tones; now esp. the manner of striking or pressing the keys of a keyboard instrument so as to produce special varieties of tone or effect. Hence transf. (chiefly poet.) a single sound produced by touching an instrument; a note or brief strain of instrumental music.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 120. Nwe nakryn noyse with þe noble pipes, Wylde werbles & wyȝt wakned lote, Þat mony hert ful hiȝe hef at her towches.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., III. ii. 79. Orpheus Lute,… Whose golden touch could soften steele and stones. Ibid. (1596), Merch. V., V. i. 67. With sweetest tutches pearce your Mistresse eare, And draw her home with musicke.
1628. Milton, Vac. Exerc., 38. Listening to what unshorn Apollo sings To th’ touch of golden wires. Ibid. (1667), P. L., IV. 686. With Heav’nly touch of instrumental sounds.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, x. I hear no unpleasing touch of minstrelsy.
1879. A. J. Hipkins, in Grove, Dict. Mus., I. 647. A sensitive instrument of touch, instead of one of mere percussion.
1884. F. Taylor, ibid., IV. 152. Pianoforte music demands two distinct kinds of touch, the one adapted for … brilliant passages, the other for sustained melodies.
b. As an attribute of the performer: Capacity, skill, or style of playing; now esp. on a keyboard instrument, in relation to the action of the fingers upon the keys (see above).
1601. ? Marston, Pasquil & Kath., I. 15. I had the best stroke, the sweetest touch, but now … I am falne from the Fiddle.
1613. Fletcher, etc., Captain, I. iii. You had a pleasant touch o’ th’ cittern once, If idleness have not bereft you of it.
Mod. He has a remarkably delicate touch, and excels in pianissimo.
c. As an attribute of a keyboard instrument, referring to the manner in which its keys and action respond to the touch of the player.
1884. W. Parratt, in Grove, Dict. Mus., IV. 153. It is rare to find any two [organ] manuals with a similar touch, and the amount of force required to press down the key varies within wide limits. Even on the same keyboard the touch is appreciably heavier in the bass.
1885. C. G. W. Lock, Workshop Receipts, Ser. IV. 279/2. The next item, and one claiming serious attention, is the ‘touch,’ for on this depends in a great measure the pleasure and comfort of the performer.
1906. Edin. Rev., April, 412. It has a flexibility, what musicians call a sense of touch.
Mod. This piano (or organ) has a very stiff (or, a very light) touch.
† d. app. = TOCCATA. Obs.
a. 1623. in Grove, Dict. Mus., IV. 154 (title of MS. in Brit. Mus.). A touche by Mr. Byrd. Ibid. (a. 1782) (title of MS. in Lib. Roy. Coll. Music). Mr. Kelway’s touches.
9. Bell-ringing. Any series of changes less than a peal.
1872. Ellacombe, Ch. Bells Devon, etc., ix. 471. A peal … means the performance of the full number of changes which may be rung on a given number of bells; any less number of changes would be called ‘a touch.’
1898. G. S. Tyack, Bk. about Bells, viii. 141. Five thousand changes … is the smallest number to which the name of a peal is technically allowed, less than that number merely constitutes a ‘touch.’
*** In artistic work.
10. An act of touching a surface with the proper tool in painting, drawing, writing, carving, etc.; a stroke or dash of a brush, pencil, pen, chisel, or the like; hence, a stroke or dash of color in a picture, etc., or a detail of any artistic work, as in literary description; a slight act or effort added in doing or completing a piece of work of any kind.
1607. Shaks., Timon, I. i. 38. It [a picture] tutors Nature, Artificiall strife Liues in these toutches, liuelier then life.
1693. Dryden, Juvenal, Ded. (1697), 5. Some few Touches of your Lordship, some secret Graces which I have endeavour’d to express after your manner.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 357, ¶ 8. Milton never fails of … bestowing the last finishing Touches to every Incident.
1768. W. Gilpin, Ess. Prints, 39. Unless the pencil add those high-blown touches, which mark the passion.
1847. L. Hunt, Men, Women, & B., II. x. 212. She might be suspected of having given it some after touches.
1894. J. T. Fowler, Adamnan, Introd. 74. Eddius’s graphic touch about St. Wilfrid … some life-like touches in Colgan’s Vita Secunda.
b. Capacity of using the brush, pencil, pen, or other instrument; artistic skill or faculty; style or quality of artistic work; method of handling, execution. (Cf. 8 b, 18.)
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 748. Painting in crayons … may serve to teach him a masterly freedom of touch.
1880. Warren, Book-plates, iv. 35. In Mountaine’s early Chippendale style, and with that engraver’s touch.
**** In Magnetism.
11. The action or process of magnetizing a steel bar or needle by contact with one or more magnets; different methods are known as single, double, and separate touch.
1705. Derham, in Phil. Trans., XXV. 2143. This gave so vigorous a Touch, that I am almost of opinion, It is the best way of Touching.
1837. Brewster, Magnet., 15. The science of magnetism is … indebted to Mr. Michell for his invention of the method of double touch.
1849. Noad, Electricity, 308. Mr. Michell states that two magnets will, by his process of double touch, communicate as strong a magnetic virtue to a steel bar, as a single magnet of five times the strength, when used in the process of single touch.
***** In Football.
12. The act (in the Rugby game) of touching the ground with the ball behind the goal, usually the opponents’ goal (see TOUCH v. 30, also touch-back, -down s.v. TOUCH- 2); transf. (esp. in phr. in or into touch), that part of the ground outside the bounding lines of the field of play (touch-lines and goal-lines); touch-in-goal, that part of this behind the goal-line.
1864. Field, 5 Nov., 331/1. The School … managed to keep the ball close to their opponents’ goal, till at length a long drop of Poole’s took the ball into touch-in-goal. Ibid., 19 Nov., 354/2. [see TOUCH v. 2 f]. Ibid. (1877), 24 Feb., 220/2. Clifton scored a touch in goal. Ibid. (1886), 9 Oct., 535/2. An easy victory … by eight goals, three tries, and six touches to one goal.
1889. H. Vassall, Rugby Football, 18. Our fullback … should always bear in mind that he must send it [the ball] into touch at all costs, as that means so much ground gained for his side for the next line out.
1895. Outing (U.S.), XXVII. 250/1. The ball is thrown out from touch by the side that carried it in, or by the opposite team to that which kicked it in.
III. Various figurative senses. (See also 1 e, 2 e, 4 b, 5 d, 7.)
13. fig. The act of touching or fact of being touched (in fig. senses of the vb.). a. A stroke, action, or influence (esp. slight, or momentary); a slight or instantaneous act producing some effect.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. XC. i. Free From all touch of age and yeare.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., III. Wks. 1856, I. 35. I will … strike her thoughts with the pleasing touch of my voice.
c. 1742. Gray, Ignorance, 21. With damp, cold touch forbid it [spark of wit] to aspire.
1780. Burke, Sp. Econ. Reform, Wks. III. 261. That their ancient … castles should moulder into decay, under the silent touches of time.
1799. Monthly Rev., XXX. 490. The Cartesian hypothesis melted away under the touch of geometry.
1819. Scott, Leg. Montrose, xvi. Curing me, in respect that I had got a touch of the wars in my retreat.
1878. Browning, La Saisiaz, 329. Death’s kindly touch … gave Soul and body both release.
1884. H. James, Little Tour France, xxvii. 173. Vineyards red with the touch of October.
b. spec. An impression upon the mind or soul; a feeling, sense (of some emotion, etc.); † a feeling of interest or concern in something (cf. TOUCH v. 20, 21).
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. CIII. viii. And looke how much The neerly touching touch The father feeles towards his sonne most deare.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. vii. 18. Didst thou but know the inly touch of Loue.
1690. C. Nesse, O. & N. Test., I. 210. If the Holy Spirit doth not touch us with his divine touches, the unclean spirit will with his deadly touches.
1866. B. Taylor, Over Possession, Poems 270. I wait the touch of song.
1869. Tozer, Highl. Turkey, II. 232. One occurrence, or idea, or touch of feeling, is selected, and … seldom treated at any great length.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, xii. Some touch of compunction smote him.
c. The condition of being mentally ‘touched’ or affected (TOUCH v. 23 b); slight derangement. rare–1.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 178, ¶ 2. My Friend the Upholsterer, whose Crack towards Politicks I have heretofore mention’d. This Touch in the Brain of the British Subject is … owing to the reading News-Papers.
d. A close relation of communication, agreement, sympathy, or interest; chiefly in phr. in or out of touch with, also to keep or lose touch with (rarely of). [Perh. orig. in literal use, in military drill; cf. 1 d.]
1884. Church, Bacon, vi. 153. The Kingship of the Tudors … always seeking … to be in touch and sympathy with popular feeling.
1884. Pall Mall G., 25 Jan., 4/2. Sir Henry Parkes has always kept himself in touch with English public opinion.
1884. Christian World, 15 May, 369/2. He had never lost touch with his brethren.
1887. A. Fleming, in Libr. Mag., 29 Jan., 325. To bring religion into touch with conduct.
1901. Earl Spencer in Parl. Deb., 5 July, 948. But they are not in touch … with all the best information which the Board of Admiralty have at their command.
14. (fig. from 3.) A faculty or capacity of the mind analogous or likened to the sense of touch; mental or moral perception or feeling.
1656. Stanley, Hist. Philos., IV. (1701), 134/1. They held that … those things only can be perceived which are felt by inward touch as grief and pleasure.
1872. Liddon, Elem. Relig., v. 179. An accuracy and delicacy of intellectual touch.
1904. H. Black, Pract. Self Cult., vii. 168. You will develop tact, which is just the faculty of touch, fineness of sensation.
15. A stroke of action, an act; a brief turn or ‘go’ at some occupation; † in early use, a sly, mean, or deceitful act, a trick (obs.). Now rare.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xxv. (Arb.), 56. O what false touches can he, how can he stuffe the sleue wyth flockes.
a. 1521. J. Heywood, Pard. & Friar, Plays (1905), 21. If thou play me such another touch I sh’ knock thee on the costard.
1530. Palsgr., 640. It is no good felowes touche to stande mouching in a cornar.
1572. Gascoigne, Counc. to B. Withipoll, 7. Beleeue me now it is a friendly touch, To vse fewe words where friendship doth remaine.
c. 1591. H. Smith, Wks. (1867), II. 406. Mahomet … went and first took part with the Romans, but afterwards served them a sly touch, and forsook them.
1598. T. Bastard, Chrestoleros (1880), 36. Some will giue sixe pence for a witty touch, And some to see an Ape will giue as much.
1681. T. Flatman, Heraclitus Ridens, No. 37 (1713), I. 246. We’ll have a Touch with him for it one of these Days.
1791. O’Keeffe, Wild Oats, II. ii. I’ll take a touch at the London theatre.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Loom & Lugger, II. i. She might not only clean her husband’s loom in peace but have a touch at the old man’s.
16. An act of touching upon or mentioning something; a mention, reference, allusion, slight notice, hint; a brief statement or narration. Now rare or Obs.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1301. Bot he had craued a cosse, bi his courtaysye, Bi sum towch of summe tryfle, at sum talez ende.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., Ded. (Rolls), 1. Whanne I loke upon hem, and have a schort touch of the writing, I can sone dilate the circumstaunses.
1600. O. E., Repl. Libel, I. vii. 169. He passeth this ouer without touch, and onely telleth vs [etc.].
1628. Coke, On Litt. (1629), 289. Two ancient Records … whereof to my remembrance, I neuer read any touch in our Bookes.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., II. ii. § 7 (1712), 43. First I shall recurr and give a touch upon the nature of gravity.
1685. Baxter, Paraphr. N. T., Mark xvi. 14. Mark doth but give us a brief touch of some of Christ’s appearances, and leaves much, recorded by others.
1706. J. Logan, in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem., X. 120. I cannot think it becomes me when I write about thy business to give it by hints and touches.
1855. W. Arnot, Lett., in Mrs. A. Fleming, Life, vi. (1877), 295. I can on short warning give you a little touch, with a moral in it like the two papers I have sent you.
† b. The fact or quality of touching, affecting, concerning, or relating to something; relation, reference, concern. Obs. rare.
1612. Bacon, Ess., Discourse (Arb.), 21. Speech of touch toward others, should bee sparingly vsed; for discourse ought to bee as a field, without comming home to any man. Ibid. (1625), Anger, 566. Opinion of the Touch of a Mans Reputation, doth multiply and sharpen Anger.
† 17. The quality or fact of affecting injuriously; reproach, blemish, stain, taint. Obs.
1567. Q. Eliz., Lett. to Throgmorton, in Robertson, Hist. Scot. (1759), II. App. 47. We … cannot but think them to have therein gone so far beyond the duty of subjects, as must needs remain to their perpetual touche for ever.
c. 1580. Walsingham, in Digges, Compl. Ambass. (1655), 366. They did not see how their Monsieurs honour … could be salved, without great touch to both.
1588. Copy of Lett., in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), II. 71. Reported, to the dishonour of the Duke of Medina … and to a great touch to the commanders of the Spanish navy.
1616. Sir R. Dudley, in Fortescue Papers (Camden), 16. That I have lived these nine yeares abroade, without all tutche of disloyalty.
18. A distinguishing quality, characteristic, trait. (Cf. 5 d; but app. partly fig. from 10.) In later use often passing into ‘trace’: see next sense.
1539. Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 38. It is theyr owne maners, theyr owne qualities, touches, condicions, & procedynges that shape them this fortune.
1603. B. Jonson, Sejanus, I. i. But he had other touches of late Romans, That more did speak him: Pompey’s dignity, The innocence of Cato, Cæsar’s spirit.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., III. iii. 175. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin [= One natural trait proves the kinship of all mankind]: That all with one consent praise new borne gaudes.
1679. J. Goodman, Penit. Pard., II. i. (1713), 144. As if men had forgone all touches of humanity and were become a kind of walking-ghosts.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Ability, Wks. (Bohn), II. 35. You shall trace those Gothic touches at school, at country fairs, at the hustings, and in Parliament.
1897. H. Newbolt, Admirals All, 30. But cared greatly to serve God and the king, And keep the Nelson touch.
19. A slight amount or trace of some quality, attribute, or ingredient; ‘a small quantity intermingled’ (J.); a trace, spice, smack.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. iv. 157. Madam, I haue a touch of your condition, That cannot brooke the accent of reproofe.
1643. J. M., Soveraigne Salve, 21. Hath not even the Lord Chancellour a little touch of such a power?
1707. Norris, Treat. Humility, vi. 282. The bashful and blushing speaker must have a touch of vanity in his constitution.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., vii. She hath in her a touch of her father Henry.
1835. Lindley, Introd. Bot. (1839), 477. Grey with a touch of red.
b. spec. A slight affection or attack of illness or disease; a twinge. (Cf. 4.)
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 259. Monsieur Mandelslo was the onely person who had no touch of sicknesse all along our Travels.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 260. Every one threatned me with that Distemper, and yet … I never had the least touch of it.
1791. ‘G. Gambado,’ Ann. Horsem., viii. (1809), 102. I have a touch of the gout in my knees.
1890. Besant, Demoniac, ii. He said he had had a touch of sore throat.
c. Without of: A very little, a slight amount; in advb. const. = slightly, somewhat, ‘a little bit.’
1786. Burns, Twa Dogs, 81. Ye maist wad think, a wee touch langer, An’ they maun starve o’ cauld and hunger.
1827. Scott, Surg. Dau., vii. Still this story … seems a touch even beyond Tom Hillary.
1868. Freeman, in Stephens, Life & Lett. (1895), I. 405. I really think that the Great Unpaid are a touch more sensible.
20. a. slang or colloq. An article or ‘affair’ that will touch or move purchasers to the extent of a certain price.
1712. Swift, Pref. to Burnet’s Hist. Ref., Wks. 1738, VI. 53. I desire you to print in such a form, as in the Bookseller’s phrase will make a Sixpenny touch.
1720. Sir E. Philipps, Diary, 22 Sept. At night went to the Ball at the Angel A guinea touch.
1815. Scott, Lett. to J. B. S. Morritt, 2 Oct., in Lockhart. I think … the Poems of David [Hume] would make a decent twelve-shilling touch.
1865. Slang Dict., Touch, a slang expression in common use in phrases which express the extent to which a person is interested or affected, as ‘a fourpenny touch,’ i. e. costing that amount.
b. slang. An act of stealing or theft, esp. of pocket-picking; also, the act of getting money from a person; transf. a sum of money gained or got at once, esp. by theft. (Cf. TOUCH v. 15, 16 b.)
1888. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms, xliv. A thousand ounces of gold was no foolish touch.
1900. Westm. Gaz., 13 Dec., 12/2. Returns of pocket-picking. He estimates twenty-five dollars a ‘touch’ as a fair record if there is much money in the crowd, and five or six touches a day as a good average.
1912. Nation, 7 Dec., 428/2. No two thefts are ever absolutely alike, and no ‘touch’ of any merit is brought off but with study and preparation.
IV. Concrete senses. (See also 2 c, 6, 10, 20.)
21. Short for TOUCH-POWDER, TOUCHWOOD, or the like. Obs. exc. dial.
1541–2. Act 33 Hen. VIII., c. 6 § 1. Little handguns, ready furnished with … Gunpouder, fyer, & touche.
1619. H. Hutton, Follies Anat. (Percy Soc.), 18. Where’s your tobacco box, your steele and touch?
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. IV., cclviii. The fangle which Fires the drye touch of Constitution.
1887. Suppl. to Jamieson, Touch, touche, short for touch-wood, but applied to amadou and other materials used as tinder: ‘as sharp as touch,’ as quick [to ‘fire up’] as touch-wood, quick-tempered.
† 22. = TOUCH-PIECE 2. Obs.
1659. Leak, Waterwks., 26. When the Barrel turns the pins Q and R, they may make the said conveiances open … according to … the disposition of the Pins and Touches Q and R.
23. Shipbuilding. In a plank tapering both ways, the projecting angle at the broadest part (near one end if worked top-and-butt, in the middle if worked anchor-stock fashion); also, each of the angles of the stern-timbers at the counters.
1711. W. Sutherland, Shipbuild. Assist., 25. Set off the exact Length forward and aftward from the Observation of the rising of the Keel, by Shipwrights called the Touch, or Place where the Keel’s upper Part ends to be streight.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVII. 392/1. On the pencil line set off the distance the touch of the lower counter is abaft the aft side of the wing transom.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 128. This work is the best when the touch or knuckle is at the planksheer.
V. Phrases.
† 24. To keep touch. a. To keep covenant, keep faith, keep one’s promise, or engagement, act faithfully. Also to hold touch. (? From the practice of striking hands, or of touching something sacred (cf. TOUCH v. 1, quot. 1491), in making a covenant.) So to break touch. Obs.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1677. I schal … halde þe towchez.
a. 1529. Skelton, Mann. World, 90. Amonge them that are riche, No frendshyp is to kepe tuche.
1540–1. Elyot, Image Gov. (1556), 159. By kepyng his promise and touche.
c. 1557. Abp. Parker, Ps. lxxviii. 219. They kept not true tutch wyth God hys pact they overyed.
1594. Death of Usurie, 4. If a shop-keeper lend mony … to his neighbour…, if he breake touch the shop-keeper may lawfully take so much as he sustained losse.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. I. 847. Quoth Hudibras, Thou offer’st much, But art not able to keep touch.
1706. Reflex. upon Ridicule, 47. To promise every body and keep touch with no body.
1825. Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. Superannuated Man. When the week came round did the glittering phantom … keep touch with me?
b. To keep up communication, keep in touch with: so to lose touch: see 13 d.
† 25. To flee touch, to make off, to escape; also = break touch (see 24 a). Obs.
c. 1530. Hickscorner, B j b. A strype he gaue me, I fledde my touche, And frome my gyrdle he plucked my pouche.
a. 1569. Kingesmyll, Man’s Est., x. (1580), 56. He was fain to flee touche and avoide from Bethlehem into Egypt.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut., xxvi. 153. They were vnconstant and fled touch anon after.
† 26. True (good, sure) as touch: perfectly or absolutely true, etc. (? from sense 5.) Obs.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. iii. 2. To thinke how she through guyleful handeling, Though true as touch,… Is from her knight divorced.
1620. Shelton, Quix. (1746), IV. x. 77. Of Sancho’s Proceeding in his Government, with other Successes as good as Touch.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, I. (1692), 187. And that was sure as touch, because the House was to be past by Act of Parliament to the King’s Majesty.
† 27. Rum touch: an odd or queer fellow. Obs. slang.
1804. T. Creevey, in C. Papers, etc. (1904), I. 22. To meet Brogden and Col. Porter, two cursed rum touches that he has persuaded to vote with him and to desert Fox.
1806. S. Grildrig, Miniature (ed. 2), II. 9. The last whom I shall mention is an Odd Fellow, or according to the language of the day, ‘a rum touch.’ Ibid., 10. Whereas many young fellows … have … attempted to sustain the character of a Rum Touch, and have … failed most miserably, notice is hereby given [etc.].
28. In or out of touch with: see 13 d. In or within touch: see 1 e. To put to the touch: see 7.
VI. Combinations: see TOUCH- in comb.
