Arch

adj. (old colloquial).—Properly chief, pre-eminent: hence (1) = clever, crafty, roguish (B. E.); and (2) = extreme, OUT-AND-OUT (q.v.). [O.E.D.: ‘In modern use chiefly prefixed intensively to words of bad or odious sense.’] Thus, ARCH-BOTCHER = a clumsy patch-worker; ARCH-FOOL (or DOLT) = an out-and-out duffer; ARCH-KNAVE = a rascal of parts; ARCH-COVE (or ROGUE) = spec. the ringleader of a band of gypsies or thieves: whence ARCH-DELL (or DOXY) = ‘the same in rank among the female canters or gypsies’ (GROSE); ARCH-WHORE = a bilking harlot (B. E.), etc. Also = sharp, keen, splenetic: usually with at or upon.

  1551.  ROBINSON, More’s Utopia, 39. Thies wysefooles and verye ARCHEDOLTES.

  1594.  A Merry Knack to Know a Knave [DODSLEY, Old English Plays (HAZLITT), vi. 528]. When I came to the Exchange, I espied … An ARCH-COSENER.

  1635.  CORBET, To the Ghost of Robert Wisdom. ARCH-BOTCHER of a Psalm or Prayer!

  d. 1650.  T. MAY, Satyr, Puppy, 46. Some ARCH-ROGUE … hath done her wrong.

  1670.  EACHARD, The Ground and Occasions of the Contempt of the Clergy and Religion, p. 5. Lads that are ARCH KNAVES at the nominative case.

  1678.  BUNYAN, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii. 147. Greath. By-ends was the ARCH ONE. Hon. By-ends; What was he? Greath. A very ARCH FELLOW, a downright Hypocrite.

  1712.  STEELE, Spectator, 432. 5. A Templar, who was very ARCH upon Parsons.

  1741.  RICHARDSON, Pamela, I. 135. Sir Simon … you are very ARCH UPON us.

  2.  (old: now recognised).—Saucy; waggish. Thus ARCH (= witty) FELLOW (B. E.); ARCH (= pleasant) WAG (B. E.); ARCH DUKE = ‘a comical or eccentric fellow’ (GROSE).

  1662.  H. MORE, Scholia on the Antidote against Atheism, I. viii. That ARCH WAG … ridiculed that solid argument.

  1710.  Tatler, 193. 1. So ARCH a leer.

  1775.  WESLEY, Works, iv. 41. Some ARCH BOYS gave him such a mouthful of dirt.

  1810.  CRABBE, The Borough, xv. ARCH was her look and she had pleasant ways.

  1872.  W. BLACK, The Strange Adventures of a Phaeton, xxiii. Her ARCH ways, and her frank bearing.

  1877.  ARNOLD, Poems, I. 27.

  See ARK.