Forms: α. 3–6 touche, 3–7 towche, (4 tuoche), 4–6 toche, tuche, (tuouche), 4–7 tuch, 5–7 towch, (6 twoche, 6–7 toutch, tutch(e, 7 towtch), 6– touch. β. (chiefly Sc.) 4–6 twech(e, 5–6 twich(e, twych, tuiche, tuech(e, 5–7 tuich, 6 tweich, tueiche, tuitch, 6–7 twitch; 7–9 dial. titch. [ME. a. OFr. tochier, tuchier (11th c. in Chanson Roland), mod.F. toucher ‘to touch’ = ONF. toquer, Pr. toquar, tocar, tochar, Sp. and Pg. tocar, It. toccare ‘to strike, to smite, to hit, to touch’ (Florio), Roumanian tocà to knock.
The passage of the sense ‘knock, strike’ into that of ‘touch’ (in Fr., etc.), is like that of Eng. ‘thrust, push’ into ‘put’: a stroke at its lightest is a mere touch. The Romanic toccare has been held, after Diez, to be from an OLG. *tokkôn, *tukken, MLG. tocken, tucken, = OHG. zocchôn, zucchen, ‘to draw or pull with force, pluck’; but a change of sense from ‘pull’ to ‘knock’ is inexplicable, and it is a more probable view that toccare was not from German, but an onomatopœic formation of the Romanic langs. from the syllable toc imitating a knock. Tocken, in its own sense ‘draw,’ is still in use in LG. and in parts of Holland on the German frontier, but not in Dutch itself. But the South Netherlands (Flanders, Antwerp, etc.) use now, as in Kilian’s time, a vb. tokken in the same sense as the toquer, touker of Old Northern French and its modern dialects, whence this has prob. been taken over. There is thus a gap in local continuity, as well as in sense, between the German and Romanic words. (Cf. Diez s.v. Toccare, Scheler s.v. Toucher, Körting 9802 Tukkôn; Gaston Paris in Romania, XXVII. 626.)]
I. The simple verb. * Physical senses.
1. trans. To put the hand or finger, or some other part of the body, upon, or into contact with (something) so as to feel it; ‘to exercise the sense of feeling upon’ (Phillips, 1696). Also with the hand, etc., as subject of the verb.
Usually denoting a momentary and slight act: cf. TOUCH sb.
c. 1300. Beket, 2229. And ho miȝte him enes tuochi, he was glad ynouȝ.
13[?]. Cursor M., 24498 (Cott.). Þat i moght toche him hand and fote.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xiii. 1. Who shal touche pich, shal be defoulid of it. Ibid. (1382), Matt. viii. 3. And Jhesus holdynge forthe the hond, touchide hym, sayinge, I wole, be thou maad clene.
1491. Regr. Aberdon. (Maitl. Cl.), I. 328. Þe parteis … ar oblist … be þe haly ewangell tuechet befor þir vytnes.
1526. Tindale, John xx. 17. Jesus sayde vnto her: touche me not.
1528. Lyndesay, Dreme, 1088. All that he twychit, but delatioun, Turnit in gold.
1570. Levins, Manip., 182/30. To Tutche, tangere.
1599. Davies, Immort. Soul, cxcvi. And in those fiue All things their Formes expresse, Which we can touch, tast, feele, or heare, or see.
a. 1657. Sir W. Mure, Misc. Poems, xi. 5. Hands, forbeare to tuich Oght ȝor tuiching can bewitch!
1764. Reid, Inquiry, V. vi. 127. My two hands touch the extremities of a bódy.
1800. trans. Lagrange’s Chem., I. 22. When I touch a warm body, the caloric passes from the body into my hand.
1847. Kinglake, Eöthen, xvi. With tremulous boldness she touches—then grasps your hand.
Constructions. b. To touch (a thing) with the hand or other part, or with some instrument.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 20759 (Fairf.). Ga to þa men … & touche ham he saide wiþ hit.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., V. v. 88. With Triall-fire touch me his finger end.
1643–. [see TONGS 2 a].
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 811. Him thus intent Ithuriel with his Spear Touch’d lightly.
1704. Pope, Messiah, 6. O thou my voice inspire, Who touched Isaiah’s hallow’d lips with fire.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 582 (Glass-making). The … workman … touching its tubular neck with an iron chisel dipped in cold water.
1847. Kinglake, Eöthen, xviii. She has touched the poor Levantine with the hem of her sleeve.
c. To touch (the hand or other part, or something held) to († till) something, = to bring it into contact with something; with pl. obj. to bring (two things) into mutual contact.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 21549 (Cott.). Þe thred [third cross] þai toched til his hide, And up he ras wit-vten bide.
c. 1460. Play Sacram., 775. And towche thyn hand to thy saluacon.
1715. Prior, Down-Hall, 173. Now let us touch thumbs, and be friends ere we part.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), IV. 141. He then touched his white wand to the neck of his steed.
1897. Outing (U.S.), XXX. 378/2. Touch a match to it, and you will presently have a fire.
d. absol. or intr. (in general sense).
1388. Wyclif, Isa. lix. 10. We as with outen iȝen touchiden.
a. 1648. Digby, Chym. Secr., II. (1682), 232. Dip a Straw or Feather in it, and touch all round about the borders of the Sore with it.
a. 1897. G. Meredith, Marian, i. She can talk the talk of men, And touch with thrilling fingers.
2. Specific applications of sense 1.
a. To have sexual contact with. trans., or (obs.) intr. with to (till). Obs. exc. as merged in 12.
13[?]. Cursor M., 10877 (Gött.). Þe womman þat neuer touchid man, How sal scho conceyue? tel me þan. Ibid., 11139 (Cott.). Als quen he fand wit barn his wijf, Þat he neuer had toched till. Ibid. (c. 1375), 2422 (Fairf.). Þat muȝt na mon of lecchery hir body touche wiþ velany.
1512. Helyas, in Thoms, Prose Rom. (1828), III. 40. Your noble person hath touched often times to hers after the constitucion of the sacrament of mariage.
1762. Brydges, Burlesque Homer (1772), 361. May I for cats and dogs turn butcher, If ever yet she’d let me touch her.
b. To lay the hand upon (a diseased person) for the cure of the ‘king’s evil’ or scrofula, as formerly practised by French and English sovereigns. Also absol.
1606. J. Melvill, Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 657. The Royall ceremonie of tuiching of some diseased childrein for hailling off sume of the escrolles.
1660. Evelyn, Diary, 6 July. His Majestie began first to touch for the evil, according to costome.
1705. Lond. Gaz., No. 4126/3. All Persons who shall … apply to be Touched, shall bring a Certificate.
1716. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), V. 359. He said the King touched many for ye Evil … and that they recovered.
1791. Boswell, Johnson (1906), I. 17. His mother … carried him to London, where he was actually touched by Queen Anne.
1880. Dixon, Windsor, IV. xxxi. 298. The King began to touch for scrofula.
c. Sc. Hist. referring to the touching of an Act of Parliament with the scepter in token of the royal assent.
1694. Fountainhall, in M. P. Brown, Suppl. Decis. (1826), IV. 179. This act was not touched; and so the Lords thought they could not supply the royal assent, nor make it an act.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xviii. IV. 186. He [William] had … suffered the law which abolished patronage to be touched with his sceptre.
1907. A. Lang, Hist. Scot., IV. i. 3. Of the Acts passed by the Estates at this time, hardly one was ‘touched’ with the sceptre by the Commissioner. Ibid., ii. 29. He was to ‘touch’ and pass the Acts of 1689 for restoring Presbyterian preachers.
d. Med. To examine by touch or feeling: see TOUCH sb. 1 c. Also absol.
1734. E. Hody, W. Giffard’s Cases Midwif., lxxxi. 192. I thought it proper to touch her.
1754–64. Smellie, Midwif., III. 424. Upon touching I found the os uteri a little more dilated.
e. To bring by touching into some condition.
1813. Montgomery, World bef. Flood, II. 207. Time had but touch’d her form to finer grace.
1892. Tennyson, Making of Man, 4. Shall not æon after æon pass and touch him into shape?
1. Football: = Touch down: see 30.
1864. Field, 19 Nov., 354/2. When the ball is touched inside goal-line, must it be touched down dead? that is, is it fair touch if the ball move or roll afterwards? Ibid. (1877), 24 Feb., 220/1. Hutchinson … safely touched the ball behind the home team’s line.
g. absol. or intr. Of soldiers in the rank: To close up until the elbows are in contact.
1803. Dickinson, Instr. Infantry, 79. The leading man of the Front Rank … marks Time, the Rest wheel up to him, dressing by the Left, and touching lightly to the Right.
1877. Man. Field Artillery Exerc., 26. During the wheel, each man must touch lightly … towards the pivot flank.
h. intr. for pass. (with descriptive extension): To ‘feel’ to the touch; to cause a specified sensation when touched.
1770–4. A. Hunter, Georg. Ess. (1803), IV. 575. We say this beast touches nicely upon its ribs.
1885. Jefferies, Open Air (1890), 104. They touch rough—dusty rough, as books touch that have been lying unused.
3. trans. To come into, or be in, contact with. (Expressing an involuntary act or state of a person or part of the body, or of an inanimate thing.)
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 190. He smote him in þe helm, bakward he bare his stroupe. Þe body he did ouerwhelm, his hede touched þe croupe.
1382. Wyclif, Numb. xxxi. 19. Who sleeth a man, or a man sleyn touchith.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVI. vii. (Bodl. MS.). Quike siluer … cleueþ nouȝt to þinge þat it toucheþ.
1506. Guylforde, Pilgr. (Camden), 65. If the galye had ones towched the rok, we had ben all perysshed.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., iv. 10. The ends of their sailyards, whereof some were so long that they touched even the very water.
1775. Luckombe, Hist. Print., 385. Its touching the letters underneath may be prevented.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. viii. 263. Loose shingle … falls upon the ice where it touches the rocks.
b. intr. or absol.: usually of two things, in reciprocal sense.
1615. W. Lawson, Country Housew. Gard. (1626), 23. That no tree … drop vpon, or touch his fellowes…. If they touch, the winde will cause a forcible rub.
1821. Shelley, Epipsych., 578. Those spheres … Touch, mingle, are transfigured.
1832. Tennyson, Dream Fair Wom., 116. The bright death quiver’d at the victim’s throat; Touch’d; and I knew no more. Ibid. (1842), Talking Oak, 131. So fleetly did she stir, The flower, she touch’d on, dipt and rose.
Mod. Place them close together, but do not let them touch.
4. trans. To be in contact with, or immediately adjacent to; to adjoin, border on; to skirt.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 5. Waite wel wher as thin Almury towcheth the bordure, & set ther a prikke of ynke.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 361. This State, touching the Apenine mountaines on the South, and the Adriatike Sea upon the North.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., III. viii. A part of the road where it touched the river.
1896. Baden-Powell, Matabele Campaign, x. The Transvaal border touches ours near Tuli.
b. intr. † To be contiguous to (obs.); fig. to have mutual contact; (with upon) to succeed continuously.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), vii. 80. The vale of Josaphathe, þat touchethe to the walles, as thoughe it were a large dyche.
1669. Flavel, Husb. Spir., III. iii. (1674), 211. There are several particulars in which this … design and the pains of Husbandmen … do meet and touch.
1794. Paley, Evid., I. ix. § 4 (1817), 238. A series of writers touching upon one another.
c. Geom. (trans.) Of a line (straight or curved) or a surface: To meet (another line or surface) at a point so that when produced it does not (ordinarily) intersect or ‘cut’ it at that point; to be tangent to. Also absol. or intr. in reciprocal sense.
(A straight line may exceptionally both touch and cut a curve or curved surface at the same point, viz. at a point of inflexion, where the curvature changes from convex to concave or vice versa. In some cases also two surfaces (e.g., a cylinder and a plane, or two cylinders) may touch along a line instead of at a single point. See TANGENT A. 1, B. 1 b.)
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, III. def. ii. 81. A right line is sayd to touch a circle, which touching the circle and being produced cutteth it not.
1840. Lardner, Geom., 52. The straight line joining the centres of circles which touch externally, must pass through their point of contact.
1885. Eagles, Constr. Geom. Plane Curves, 136. To describe an ellipse to touch five given lines.
1885. Leudesdorf, Cremona’s Proj. Geom., 147. An infinite number of conics can be drawn to touch a given straight line at a given point, and to touch two other given straight lines.
5. To strike or hit lightly (esp. with the spur, or in Fencing); in quot. c. 1550, to hit, beat.
a. 1330. Otuel, 84. Wiþ þat word þe kinges a non Touchede here stedes & made hem gon.
c. 1550. R. Wever, Lusty Juventus, D iij b. If thou tel not truth, I wil not be behind, To touch you as wel agayne.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., IX. (S.T.S.), II. 181. As a noble horss tuechte with the spur is mair quik.
1809. Roland, Fencing, 124. At no time should you endeavour to touch your adversary while thrusting carte and tierce.
1831. Scott, Ct. Robt., iii. Achilles … touched the door with a rap, distinct at once and modest.
6. To affect physically in some way by contact. a. To make an impression upon; to stain, scratch, abrade, corrode, decompose, etc.
Touched with the tar-brush (fig.): see TAR-BRUSH b.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xii. 40 (Harl. MS.). If ȝe hadde on your cloke, the reyne shuld not haue y-towchid your clothing.
1677. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., i. 3. So hard that a File will not touch it (as Smiths say when a File will not cut or race it).
1725. Bradley’s Fam. Dict., s.v. Silver, The Aqua Regalis, which dissolves Gold, will not touch Silver.
1881. Young, Every Man his own Mechanic, § 1438. No file or cutting tool will ‘touch’ it.
† b. intr. with upon, in same sense. Obs.
a. 1626. Bacon, Phys. Rem., Wks. 1879, I. 245/1. For dissolution into liquor, we are to inquire … what will touch upon the one [metal] and not upon the other.
c. trans. To magnetize by contact or rubbing with a magnet. ? Obs. (Cf. TOUCH sb. 11.)
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ii. 12. The darke Compasse hath the points blacke and white, and the other onely touched for the true North and South.
1698. Ballard, in Phil. Trans., XX. 418. I took my Knife, which had been formerly toucht … and profering it to the Needle, it drew the North Pole.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 13. The Loadstone,… tho’ never so well touch’d, will often point from its true Pole.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), Toucher un compas, to touch the needle of a compass with a magnet.
1795. Hutton, Math. Dict., s.v. Magnet, This vertical way of touching a bar will not give it quite so much of the magnetic virtue.
d. To apply some substance lightly to (a part of the body, etc.) by contact, esp. for medicinal purposes (const. with the substance); spec. (Med.) to touch the gums, to induce salivation, as by the use of mercury.
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. vii. 147. Ile touch my point, With this contagion, that if I gall him slightly, It may be death.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxvi. 332. The raw surface itself … touched with zinc ointment.
1893. W. R. Gowers, Man. Dis. Nerv. Syst. (ed. 2), II. 358. The patient should be brought slightly … under its [i.e., mercury’s] influence, so as just ‘to touch the gums’ as the phrase is.
7. To affect injuriously in some physical way (e.g., by fire or frost), esp. in a slight degree; to communicate disease to by contagion, to infect, taint; also spec. in reference to a horse’s ‘wind’ or breathing. (Usually in pa. pple.)
1595. Shaks., John, V. vii. 2. It is too late, the life of all his blood Is touch’d corruptibly.
1601. W. Leigh, Soules Solace (1617), 7. When … he [Job] was toucht in his own person, so as his bone claue to his flesh.
1681. Lond. Gaz., No. 1584/4. Lost…, A bright Bay Gelding,… all his Paces,… his Wind touch’d.
1772. R. Graves, Spir. Quix. (1820), I. 82. A horse which was touched in the wind.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxviii. An icy coldness touched her cheeks, and her fears for a while overcame her judgment.
1884. Roe, Nat. Ser. Story, ii. The plants that were touched with frost.
8. To test the fineness of (gold or silver) by rubbing it upon a touchstone (see TOUCHSTONE 2); † fig. to test, try, make trial or proof of (obs.).
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 193. There the crounes were wayed and touched.
1595. Shaks., John, III. i. 100. You haue beguil’d me with a counterfeit Resembling Maiesty, which, being touch’d and tride, Proues valuelesse. Ibid. (1607), Timon, III. iii. 6. They haue all bin touch’d, and found Base-Mettle.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 136. They … then carry [the bars of Silver] to be touch’d and mark’d.
1908. H. B. Morse, Trade Chinese Emp., 160. It is then ‘touched’ and the difference … from a certain standard, as indicated by the colour on the touchstone, is written on the other side.
b. To mark (metal) as of standard purity, etc., with an official stamp, after it has been tested.
1423. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 257/1. That no … Man that werketh Selver Hernois, put noon therof to the sale … or [= ere] that it be touched wyth the touche of the Liberdisheed, that that may resonabli bere the touche.
1697. View Penal Laws, 142. None shall put to sale any silver Harness in London before it is touched.
1746–7. in Welch, Hist. Pewterers’ Co. (1902), II. 193. That all … wares capable of a large Touch shall be touched with a large Touch.
1772–3. Act 13 Geo. III., c. 52 § 6. I will touch no silver but what shall be of the goodness of and according to the standard of this kingdom.
1852. A. Ryland, Assay Gold & S., 72. The silversmiths … were under great difficulties … for want of assayers in convenient places to assay and touch their plate.
c. intr. for pass. To appear or prove to be of standard fineness on testing; to undergo or stand the test. lit. and fig. ? Obs.
1618. Fletcher, Loyal Subject, I. v. And now you are brought to th’ test; touch right now, soldier, Now shew the manly pureness of thy mettle.
1701. Collier, M. Aurel., 31. His honesty is right sterling, and touches as well as it looks.
1705. trans. Bosman’s Guinea, 81. These Lumps or Pieces are called Mountain-Gold; which being melted, touch better than Dust-Gold.
9. trans. To strike the strings, keys, etc., of (a musical instrument) so as to make it sound; to play on, esp. to play a few notes on; to sound (a horn, a bell). [Cf. Fr. toucher la lyre, Sp. tocar la lira.] † Also intr. with on (quot. c. 1470).
c. 1480. Henryson, Orpheus & Eurydice, 611. Than Orpheus our ressoun is full wo, And twichis on his harp.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, VI. vii. A fyssher … somtyme touched his bagpype nyhe the Ryuer for to make the fysshe to daunce.
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 473. Instruments sound sweetest when they be touched softest.
1633. Massinger, Guardian, II. iv. I’ll touch my horn (Severino blows his horn): they know my call.
1697. Dryden, Alexander’s Feast, 22. Timotheus … With flying fingers touched the lyre.
1779. Mirror, No. 43, ¶ 6. The organ was touched with a hand less firm.
1818. Peacock, Melincourt, xxi. Touch the bell for the waiter.
1830. Sir J. Barrington, Pers. Sk. own Times (ed. 2), II. 164. I recollect Moore one night … touching the piano-forte in his own unique way.
1888. Burgon, Lives 12 Gd. Men, II. ix. 214. Having touched the piano, [he] was requested to sing.
b. transf. To produce (musical sounds) by ‘touching’ an instrument; to play (an air).
1823. Scott, Peveril, xxx. A person in the royal retinue touched a light and lively air on the flageolet.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, lix. Touching, to the best of her simple art, melancholy harmonies on the keys.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xviii. Her low voice in the twilight, slowly and stopping sometimes, touched the old air to which he had so often listened.
10. In drawing, painting, etc.: To mark, draw, delineate (a detail of the work) by touching the surface with the pencil, brush, etc.; also, to modify or alter by soch touches. Hence transf. in literary composition. (See also touch in, 31, touch up, 34.)
1675. A. Browne, App. Art of Limning, 10. The next you touch the Tips of the Ears with the forementioned Temperature.
1709. Pope, Ess. Crit., 22. The lines, tho’ touch’d but faintly, are drawn right.
1780. Cowper, Lett., 2 July. To touch and retouch is … the secret of almost all good writing especially in verse.
1890. N. & Q., 7th Ser. X. 118/2. My impression [of the engraving] is unequal, being faint in some parts, very dark in others. If the plate was worn, it has been ‘touched’ afterwards.
† b. intr. with upon: To add touches to, modify by touching, touch up. Obs.
1675. Bentley, in Dryden’s Mistaken Husb., To Rdr. If a great Master have but touch’d upon an ordinary Piece, he makes it of Value.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), III. 219. A French painter who was suffered to alter and touch upon his pictures.
c. fig. (trans.) To mark slightly or superficially with some color or aspect: chiefly in pa. pple. Also said of the color, etc.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xvii. Such heauenly touches nere toucht earthly faces.
1829. Scott, Anne of G., xiii. The dawn had scarce begun to touch the distant horizon.
1847. L. Hunt, Jar Honey, xii. (1848), 158. The rock on the woody promontory … is touched with rose-colour.
1883. F. M. Peard, Contrad., xix. A faint smile touched her lips as she wondered.
11. intr. Of a ship, or those on board: To arrive and make a short stay in passing at a port or place on the way; to call in passing. Also transf. (of a traveller), and fig. Usually with at.
1517. Torkington, Pilgr. (1884), 16. Many Shippys and galyes towche ther rather thanne at Parence.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. xlii. 98. That in his way he should touch at the Ilande of S. Blaze.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, VII. 29. Lest the Trojan’s pious host Should bear, or touch upon th’ inchanted coast.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 58. Whenever any ship touched at that port.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 59. For the Ships who frequently touch here.
1828. Duppa, Trav. Italy, etc., 206. We touched at Panaria … on account of its warm baths of which there are numerous vestiges.
1870. Kingsley, in Gd. Words, 203/1. Our own mail steamers … could as easily touch at Terceira now, as they did a few years since.
b. trans. with the port or place as obj.: To land upon; to visit in passing; also transf. and fig.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. i. 288. All these … With eight tall ships … meane to touch our Northerne shore.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 7. Supposing that they could not touch land in Sardegna.
1774. Johnson, Lett. to Boswell, 25 Nov. Shall we touch the continent?
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xiv. 2. If one should bring me this report, That thou hadst touch’d the land to-day.
** Physical, passing into non-physical.
12. To handle or have to do with in any or the slightest degree; to meddle or interfere with however slightly; to ‘lay a finger on.’ (Usually with negative expressed or implied.)
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 192. Þat Adam & Eue … Shulde deye doune riȝte … If þat þei touched a tre, and þe fruite eten.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1337. All loste þe lyfe þat þe lede touchet.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 702. He so light was at legierdemaine, That what he toucht came not to light againe.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., I. ii. § 1. Being conscientiously scrupulous, not to take or touch a thread which is none of our own.
1711. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), III. 103. Five hundred Pounds … wch he said he never did or would touch.
1886. Ruskin, Præterita, I. xi. 345. I had never touched a card.
b. spec. To lay hands on or meddle with so as to harm; to injure, hurt, in any or the least degree.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 10369. In þe popes half he sede, ich uorbede … Þat no man ne touchi þulke clerc.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), ix. 76. The Soudan hath do make a wall aboute the sepulcre, þat noman may towche it.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. iv. 300. The Lion will not touch the true Prince.
1716. Hearne, Collect., V. 27. He stood [in the Pillory] … on Wednesday, and was not touch’d; but yesterday … he was pelted miserably.
1812. Ld. Wellington, in Examiner, 23 Nov., 742/2. No officer was touched.
1836. J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., vii. (1852), 204. The hand of violence must not touch them.
1888. Times (weekly ed.), 21 Dec., 4/2. Enemy in full retreat…. No English officers touched.
c. To take (food or drink); to ‘taste’: usually (with negative), not to take any at all. (Cf. L. tangĕre to touch, in this sense.)
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 466. That euyn full was þat fre and no fode touchet.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 3346. Þe forsaide gose þai touched noȝt.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. vii. 98. He dies that touches any of this fruite, Till I, and my affaires are answered.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xxi. If a spoonful of liquor were to cure me of a fever, I never touch a drop.
1886. W. J. Tucker, E. Europe, 191. I could not touch another drop, unless more of the gentlemen join me.
† d. intr. with with, at, on: To meddle with, have to do with (slightly or at all); to deal with cursorily (quot. 1693); to come into contact with.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Revelation Unrev., viii. That they ever offered to touch with any either secular or sacred business, we never find.
1693. Locke, Educ., § 175. Studies which a Gentleman should not barely touch at, but constantly dwell upon.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. (1709), 29. He will never touch at a great Proposal; nor run any generous Hazards for his Friends or Country.
1701. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., II. 63. But they refused to touch with it unless it was intirely surrendered to ym [them].
1746–7. Hervey, Medit. (1818), 214. Our purity is of so delicate a complexion, that it scarce touches on the world without contracting a stain.
13. trans. To get or go as far as; to reach, attain (lit. and fig.).
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 285. And with hir hed she touched hevene.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., III. ii. 223. I haue touch’d the highest point of all my Greatnesse.
1713. Steele, Guard., No. 82, ¶ 1. Mr. William Peer [an actor] distinguished himself particularly in two characters, which no man ever could touch but himself.
1842. Tennyson, Vis. Sin, 23. The music touch’d the gates and died. Ibid. (1864), En. Ard., 57. Ere he touch’d his one-and-twentieth May.
1883. Manch. Exam., 3 Dec., 4/1. The price, after touching 88, fell back on French sales to 86.
b. fig. To attain equality with, ‘come up to,’ rival, compare with. colloq.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, xliii. Is there one of you that could touch him or come near him on any scent?
1902. Violet Jacob, Sheep-stealers, viii. I thought there was nothing that could touch that mare of mine.
† c. intr. with to, in same sense. Obs.
1450–1530. Myrr. our Ladye, 198. Tyl there were rysen a starre … that myght with hys heate touche to the heate of the sonne.
14. intr. with at, to, on, upon (also absol.): To approach closely, draw very near; to verge upon; † in quot. 1615, to resemble closely (obs.).
1451. Capgrave, Life St. Gilbert, 75. Thus seknes growyng, and age of an hundred ȝere touching, he was in party compelled for to passe fro þis lif.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., I. 326. Thy forehead and fair eyes at his form touch.
1791. Burke, App. Whigs, Wks. VI. 116. During the course of a political life just touching to its close.
1801. Lusignan, IV. 224. Brother Ambrose touches at that dreadful hour, which delivers us to the sentence of an incorruptible judge!
1819. Lady Morgan, Autobiog. (1859), 315. He sometimes touched on the very verge of meanness.
1832. Lytton, Eugene A., IV. iii. At length the time touched upon dinner.
b. Naut. (trans.) To keep as close to (the wind) as the vessel will sail. Also absol.
1568. Satir. Poems Reform., xlvi. 54. Syne treveiss still, and lay abowt, And gar hir top twiche wind and waw.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ix. 37. Touch the wind, and warre no more, is … to bid him at the Helme to keepe her so neere the wind as may be. Ibid. (1692), I. xvi. 76. In keeping the Ship near the Wind, these terms are used,… Veer no more,… touch the Wind.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 85. Keep your eye on the weather leech of the sails, and just keep them touching.
15. trans. To take in the hand, take, receive, draw (money) [cf. F. toucher de l’argent (16th c. in Littré)]; sometimes, to get by underhand means; hence (Thieves’ cant), to steal. Also absol. Now chiefly slang or colloq.
1654. in Nicholas Papers (Camden), II. 153. He will give you a good account of Mr. Lovell and that he hath touched … over £1000 sterling to his owne use.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. Fasti, 859. Out of which, he had, I think, 1000l., which, with 200l. more, was all he touched in the said 19 years.
1720. Swift, Elegy on Demar, 27. He touch’d the pence when others touch’d the pot.
1758. Smollett, Hist. Eng., III. II. vii. 82. For secret service money during the last ten years the Earl of Orford had touched £1,453,400 of public money.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xxxii. I proved the [will] … at Doctors’ Commons, and touched the whole of her money.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xxxi. The … matrimonial arrangement is concluded (the agent touching his percentage).
[1898. Bodley, France, II. III. v. 238. The average annual ministerial salaries touched by French legislators.]
16. To fee, ‘tip,’ bribe, tamper with. ? Obs.
1752. Fielding, Amelia, XI. iv. He had heard that the great man must be touched; for he never did anything without touching.
1754. J. Shebbeare, Matrimony (1766), I. 95. Mr. N—— … having ’scaped the Servants … without touching one of them.
1770. Foote, Lame Lover, III. Wks. 1799, II. 84. The court may proceed…. But … I hope no gentleman has been touch’d on both sides.
b. To ‘come down upon,’ ‘get at,’ or ‘tap’ (a person) for money, to succeed in getting money from (colloq.); also, to rob (thieves’ cant); in Australian slang, to swindle, cheat.
1760. C. Johnston, Chrysal (1822), II. 43. I am quite broke up; his grace has touched me for five hundred.
1809. E. S. Barrett, Setting Sun, III. 105. If you could get me a commission, I could touch Dad for a few hundreds.
1898. Tit-Bits, 21 May, 139/3. Well, old boy, I’ve just touched Reggy for another tenner.
1898. Westm. Gaz., 14 Nov., 8/1. L.’s going to touch the public to a pretty tune for this.
c. To lay hold upon, to arrest.
1791. O’Keeffe, Wild Oats, II. i. Knock [at his door], and when he comes out touch him.
*** Non-physical senses.
17. trans. To apprehend, succeed in getting at, ‘hit,’ hit upon; to guess or state correctly. ? Obs.
c. 1325. in Rel. Ant., I. 292. Thu tuchest nowt the notes [in singing], thu bites hem on sonder.
13[?]. Cursor M., 18940 (Cott.). Als gaf to þaim þe haligast Alkin wiit to tuche and tast.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., II. ii. 194. There you toucht the life of our designe.
1715. De Foe, Fam. Instruct., I. iii. (1841), I. 58. O you have touched it! there it lies.
1797. Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., Old Wom. T. (1799), I. 380. He had at length, then, touched the point of truth.
† b. intr. with at: To succeed in hearing, to ‘catch.’ Obs.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XIX. 77. Hard it is, in such a great concourse (Though hearers’ ears be ne’er so sharp) to touch at all things spoke.
18. trans. To speak or write of, treat of, mention, tell, relate; now always, to mention briefly, casually, or in passing; to refer to, allude to. Now rare or arch.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1437. Þenne towched to þe tresour [= treasurer] þis tale watz sone.
1380. Lay Folks Catech. (Lamb. MS.), 266. The secunde part of þis Crede … towchis xiiij artyculis.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., i. 1 (Harl. MS.). And shortly for to touche þis mater; he tooke his leve.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. xi. 91 b. I will not forgette to touch the manner of the apparrell.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. xii. 67. I shall come to touch how to make a good Shot.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Sat. agst. Wom., 120. Nor shall I touch their secret murders.
1895. Gladstone, Psalter, 170. Subjects specially touched in particular passages of the Psalms.
a. 1903. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Last Hope, v. She gave a curt laugh, as if he had touched a topic upon which they would disagree.
b. intr., usually with † of, † at (obs.), on, upon, in same sense. Now the more usual construction.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 1309. Sumwhat touchen Ichulle fonde Of þat Ich may vnderstonde.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), xxx. 303. The roundenesse of the erthe, of the whiche I haue towched to ȝou of before.
1549. [see 26].
1573. L. Lloyd, Marrow of Hist. (1653), 39. To omit … to touch any more of women.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 139. I thought good to touch at this Asian luxurie.
1638. R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. II.), 39. One cannot touch upon any point where he is not ready for you.
1665. J. Sergeant, Sure Footing, 85. We will briefly touch at some of the Advantages which those Assistances … give the Church.
1746. Wesley, Answ. Ch., Princ. Methodist, 8. To touch only on what seems of the most Importance.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 5. He touches on the same difficulties and he gives no answer to them.
1883. Manch. Guard., 22 Oct., 5/2. The matter was touched upon in a general way at the Leeds Conference.
† 19. trans. (? fig. from 5.) To take to task, rebuke, reprove, censure; to charge, accuse. Obs.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 142. Yf we be touched with a sharpe worde, we shal yelde a benigne & gentyll answere.
1570. Darrell Papers, in H. Hall, Soc. Eliz. Age (1886), App. 248. Sir Water Hungerfo, and his brother hathe touched me in iij thinges.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., X. (S.T.S.), II. 474. Gif tha tuouche ouer scharplie, tha be suspected of Jnuious persounis.
1643. 5 Years K. James I., in Select. fr. Harl. Misc. (1793), 306. He is stung with fear to be touched with Overbury’s death.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. (1687), I. xxii. 307. Our Saviour … touched Martha for being troubled about many things.
b. With mixture of senses: To say something apt or telling about, esp. in censure; to ‘hit’ by some apt or smart saying. Also to touch to the quick (cf. 25 b).
a. 1529. Skelton, Agst. Scottes, 86. Thalia, my Muse, for you also call I, To touche them with tauntes of your armony.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Luke, x. 92 b. The Pharisee beeyng somewhat touched with ye aunswer of our Lorde,… woulde not acknowelage his owne faulte.
a. 1566. R. Edwardes, Damon & Pithias, Prol. In commedies the greatest skill is this, rightly to touche All thinges to the quick.
1693. Humours Town, A vj. If, therefore any find themselves touch’d, they ought to make a Right Use of it.
1733. Pope, Hor. Sat., II. i. 41. Ev’n those you touch not, hate you.
1835. Scott, Ct. Robt., xxxiii. ‘Marry, you touch me there,’ said the centurion.
20. trans. To pertain or relate to; to have bearing upon; to be the business of; to concern. Obs. or arch. (passing into next sense).
a. 1325. MS. Rawl. B. 520. lf. 52 b. That þer ne passe no writ … vnder þe kinges lutele seal þat tuchi þe commune lawe.
c. 1350. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 349. Þinges þat toucheþ the rewle of þe town.
1428. Surtees Misc. (1888), 7. Yis mater touched all ye gude men of ye consell.
1535. Coverdale, Eccl. xii. 14. Feare God, and kepe his comaundementes, for that toucheth all men.
1697. Bentley, Phal. (1699), 128. [These] Arguments touch only those particular Epistles.
1883. Manch. Guard., 22 Oct., 5/3. This … touches us not as Liberals or Conservatives, but as citizens.
† b. intr. with to, unto, upon, in same sense.
c. 1325. Poem times Edw. II. (Percy Soc.), xxxix. Ȝut ther is another craft That towcheth to clergy.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 225. That oght unto my ladi toucheth.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 220. The offence touchis to the realme, and to the citee anerly of thair propre burges.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cccxcv. 682. [It was] the duke of Lancastre, to whome the matere moost touched.
1673. Essex Papers (Camden), 104. This may a litle touch upon his Father in Law, my Lord Chancellr.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxxiv. Ne’er a man should steer a hair touching to Monk-barns while Steenie and I could wag a finger.
c. To have affinity with. † intr. with at (obs.), or trans. (obs. or arch. exc. as directly fig. from 3 or 4).
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XXI. 103. None now of all the brood of Troy … shall any breath enjoy…, specially that touch at Priam’s race.
1774. Burke, Corr. (1844), I. 505. To secure the attendance of those whom they touched the most nearly.
1888. Burgon, Lives 12 Gd. Men, II. v. 6. He never identified himself with any school of religious thought, though he touched them all.
21. trans. To be felt as the concern of or important to; to be a matter of moment to; to affect, make a difference to.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 1177. It tuichis myne honour sa neir.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 16 § 8. That this Acte … in no wise extend to ne touche the warde ne mariage of Henry Erle of Essex.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cxv. 136. A thynge … which herafter may sore touche the Countrey of Flaunders.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., II. ii. 54. His Curses and his blessings Touch me alike: th’ are breath I not beleeue in.
1882. Pebody, Eng. Journalism, xxi. 156. Till the publication of penny newspapers a few years ago the position of the Provincial Press was hardly touched.
† 22. To produce an impression on, strike, impress (the senses, or organs of sense). Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1668. Bright Aumbur, þat … smellis full swete, With taste for to touche the tabull aboute.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., V. i. 76. If … any ayre of musicke touch their eares. Ibid. (1607), Cor., II. i. 61. if the drinke you giue me, touch my Palat aduersly, I make a crooked face at it.
1629. Milton, Morn. Christ’s Nativity, Hymn, xiii. Ring out ye Crystall sphears, Once bless our human ears, (If ye have power to touch our senses so). Ibid. (1667), P. L., IX. 987.
23. To affect mentally or morally, to imbue with some quality; in bad sense, to infect, taint (cf. 7). Also predicated of the quality. Usually in pa. pple.
13[?]. Cursor M., 11328 (Cott.). Þis symeon þat had his tast Toched o þe hali gast.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 897. For neuer lesyng ne tale vntrwe Ne towched her tonge for no dysstresse.
a. 1568. So Fremmit is my Fortoun, 14, in Bannatyne Poems (Hunter. Cl.), 717. Hairtles I am, for slewth twichis me so.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., III. ii. 366. I thanke God, I am not a Woman to be touch’d with so many giddie offences as hee [my uncle] hath generally tax’d their whole sex withal.
1640–1. Sir B. Rudyard, Sp., in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1721), IV. 167. The Scots being truly touched with Religion, according to their Profession.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., cix. 10. High nature amorous of the good, But touch’d with no ascetic gloom.
1871. Morley, Crit. Misc., Ser. I. Byron (1878), 211. Byron was touched by the same fire.
b. pass. To be deranged mentally in a slight degree; in pa. pple. slightly insane or crazy, ‘cracked.’
[1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 51. With that opinion That I am touch’d with madnesse.]
1704. Steele, Lying Lover, V. iii. Pray mind him not, his Brain is touch’d.
1705. Vanbrugh, Confed., V. ii. You see master’s a little—touched, that’s all.
1756. Crit. Rev., II. 86. Till the impostor were detected, we might think him sound at heart, however touched in the head.
1810. Sporting Mag., XXXV. 292. He thought he was a little touched, or insane.
1873. Miss Thackeray, Old Kensington, xxviii. What an extraordinary creature poor Sarah is! touched, certainly.
24. To affect with some feeling or emotion; to move or stir the feelings of; to produce an emotion in; spec. to affect with tender feeling, as pity or gratitude. Const. with.
c. 1340. Hampole, Prose Tr., 2. Þe mynd towchede with þe souerayne swettnes.
c. 1500. Three Kings Sons, 188. He thought it touchid hir hert somwhat.
1603. H. Crosse, Vertues Comm. (1878), 119. [He] heareth a buzzing sound in his eares, but is neuer truly toucht in his heart.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, III. § 50. 277. It is inhumanity not to be touched with others needs.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 11, ¶ 7. I was so touch’d with this Story … that I left the Room with Tears in my Eyes.
1833. Tennyson, Poems, 133. That man, of all the men I ever knew, Most touched my fancy.
1850. Thackeray, Round. Papers, Nil nisi bonum, 227. I can’t say how much the thought of that fidelity has touched me.
b. With the feeling as subject; in passive const. with the feeling.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 371. They are neither touched with the gilt of conscience, nor haue given none any occasion of displeasure.
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xii. 70. I know this touches you with a strong inclination to it.
1718. Pope, Iliad, XXI. 105. If ever yet soft pity touch’d thy mind.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., I. ix. Then, touched with pity and remorse, He sorrowed o’er the expiring horse.
c. To influence, move (in mind or will).
1570. T. Wilson, Demosth. Orat., Life, 127. As for corrupting him wyth giftes or rewardes, he is no more to be touched that way, than was Aristides.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 45. No Decree of mine Concurring to necessitate his Fall, Or touch with lightest moment of impulse His free Will.
25. a. To grieve, vex; to injure, harm: esp. in a slight degree. ? Obs. (or merged in 23). Cf. 5.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), II. 262. As ressone wald, it tuechit him full soir.
1581. Reg. Privy Council Scot., III. 401. Be the violatioun and brek of the same his Hienes is sumquhat twitchit and offendit unto.
1608. Yorks. Trag., I. ii. Shall I stand idle And see my reputation touch’d to death?
b. To hurt or wound in mind or feelings, as if by touching a sore or tender part; to irritate, sting, nettle. Often in fig. phrases, as touch to the quick. (Cf. 5, 19 b.)
1589. Love & Fort., A ij b. He hath been lately rubde and toucht perhaps too neere.
1600. E. Blount, trans. Conestaggio, 85. They touched the ministers of iustice to the quicke.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 99, ¶ 7. Telling a Man he lyes, is touching him in the most sensible Part of Honour.
1820. Hogg, Tales & Sk., Bridal of P., II. 66. He feared it would be … touching the king upon the sore heel.
1898. J. Arch, Story of Life, xi. 257. It touched scores and scores of labourers on the raw.
II. Phrases.
26. Phrases with other verbs or sbs. Touch and go: to touch for an instant and immediately go away or pass on; to deal with momentarily or slightly. (See also TOUCH AND GO sb. and a.)
1549. Latimer, 1st Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 26. As the text doeth ryse, I wyl touche and go a lyttle in euery place, vntyl I come vnto to much.
1600. Abp. Abbot, Exp. Jonah, 446. Therefore it shall be enough for me, now to touch and go.
c. 1670. in Roxb. Ball. (1891), VII. 486. A Taylor in the Strand … Most finely was Trappan’d, touch and go.
b. Touch and run: see TOUCH sb. 1 g.
27. Touch and take: in various senses (see above and TAKE v.); in quot. 1793, to take fire at a touch.
1670. Narborough, Jrnl., in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1694), 14. One blinded with a Cloth serv’d every Man as they were called to touch and take.
1793. Regal Rambler, 40. Our hero laid in a large cargo of fresh fuel, ready to touch and take like phosphorus.
1805. Nelson, Lett. to J. D. Thomson, 5 Sept. The Enemy have a shoal of frigates with their fleet and other Small Vessels, which will take their Crippled Ships in Tow. My Motto shall be Touch and Take.
28. In comb. with sb. To touch one’s hat: to raise the hand to the hat and touch it in token of salutation (an abbreviated form of the act of taking off or raising the hat). Const. to (the person saluted).
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, VII. ix. And, touching his hat, he was riding away.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., II. 149. Not a stage coach-man … but touches his hat as he passes.
1840. Haliburton, Letter Bag, iv. 54. We bow and touch our hats with much formality.
1863. Kingsley, Water-Bab., i. So Mr. Grimes touched his hat to him.
29. In To touch wood. a. In a children’s game: see quots. 1849, 1888. b. In folk-lore, or quasi-superstitious use: To touch wood as a charm to avert apprehended misfortune, esp. that apt to follow untimely boasting or self-gratulation: cf. L. absit omen! (OMEN sb., quot. 1637).
1849. Boy’s own Bk., 37. This … game [TOUCH sb. 1 g] is sometimes called ‘Touch-iron’ or ‘Touch-wood’; in these cases the players are safe only while they touch iron or wood, as may be previously agreed. They are liable to be touched only when running from one piece of wood or iron to another.
1888. Berksh. Gloss., Touch ’ood. Boys have games called ‘touch ’ood’ and ‘touch-iron,’ where anyone not touching either of the substances named is liable to be caught by the one standing out and has to stand out accordingly.
1905. Oakland Tribune, 5/5. ‘Touching’ to ward off evil is one of the most curious habits of the human race. Many people will ‘touch wood’ when talking of past immunity from trouble.
1908. Westm. Gaz., 30 Dec., 2/3. On the next occasion when we read of Christmas with spring weather or of the changing seasons we shall ‘touch wood.’
III. In combination with adverbs.
30. Touch down. Rugby Football. trans. To touch the ground with (the ball) behind the goal, usually that of the opposing side; also absol. See also touch-down sb. (TOUCH- 2).
1864. Field, 5 Nov., 331/1. The Old Rugbeians… soon touched the ball down in the School goal. Ibid., 19 Nov., 354/2. [see TOUCH b. 2 f].
1882. Standard, 20 Nov., 2/8. The Military had … to touch-down several times in self-defence.
1891. Football: Rugby Union Laws, § 19. A Maul in Goal is when the ball is held inside the goal line and one of the opposing sides endeavours to touch it down.
1897. Sportsman, 16 Dec. [B.] took a shot at goal … but the ball went wide and J. touched down.
31. Touch in. trans. In drawing, painting, etc.: To insert (a detail) by touching with the pencil, brush, etc.
1871. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., Oct., 615. The dry leaves in the hedges … may be touched in with burnt sienna.
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. 262. Touching in as small a portion of top edge as possible.
32. Touch off. trans. a. To represent exactly, to ‘hit off’ (cf. 17); also to touch it off, to do exactly right, hit the mark exactly; in quot. 1766, to ‘take the measure of’ correctly, ‘size up’; hence to be a match for (obs.).
1758–65. Goldsm., Ess., i. ¶ 5. I was [told] … that I should now see something touched off to a nicety, for Mr. Spriggins was going to give us ‘Mad Tom’ in all its glory.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xii. I knew you would touch them off.
1821. Galt, Ayrshire Legatees, viii. He’s such a funny man! and touches of the Londoners to the nines.
b. To fire off (a cannon, etc.), orig. by putting a match to the touch-hole.
1907. Daily Chron., 6 Dec., 7/3. The only delay … is due to a fear that a dispatch of the troops will touch off the magazine.
33. Touch out. trans. To clean out (corners) by touches or light strokes, as in wood-carving.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 71/2. Tools … for fancy work, and for touching out corners difficult of access.
34. Touch up. a. trans. To improve, finish, or modify by adding touches or light strokes.
1715. Addison, Freeholder, No. 44, ¶ 3. What he saw was … her natural Countenance, touched up with the usual Improvements of an aged Coquette.
1748. Phil. Trans., XLV. 173. All the illuminated Sets were … touch’d up and finish’d by his own Hand.
1860. Thackeray, Round. Papers, Screens. Suppose the Editor … never ‘touched up’ one single line of the contribution.
1863. Baring-Gould, Iceland, 277. It is touched up, but it is for the most part quite trustworthy.
b. To stimulate by striking lightly or sharply, as with a whip; hence fig. to remind, ‘to gently jog the memory’ (Farmer, Slang).
1810. Sporting Mag., XXXV. 34 (Single Stick). Maslen set to with great confidence, sharply touching up the right arm of his antagonist.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., xxxii. He let out his whip-lash and touched up a little boy on the calves of his legs.
1902. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Stronger than Love, viii. She touched up the ponies, and brought them over the bridge … at a great pace.
