Log in or Sign up

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. Scots A two-handled drinking cup.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. See quaigh.

Wiktionary

  1. n. A traditional, shallow, two-handled Scottish cup symbolising friendship. It was originally used to toast the arrival or departure of a visitor.

Etymologies

  1. Scottish Gaelic cuach, from Old Irish cúach, from earlier cuäch.

Examples

  • “He had brought a cup, formed from a gourd, which answered the purpose of a "quaich," as it is called in Scotland; and we made our way down to the edge of the stream, where he could dip out a cupful.”

    In New Granada Heroes and Patriots

  • “Turning, Colum picked up a silver quaich from its place on the tartan-covered table behind him.”

    Fictionaut: Sick Cycle Carousel

  • “There was a lessening of the tension over the hall, and almost an audible sigh of relief in the gallery as Colum drank from the quaich and offered it to Jamie.”

    Fictionaut: Sick Cycle Carousel

  • “It was a custom to offer a welcome or farewell drink, usually whisky, in a quaich to a guest.”

    Archive 2008-03-01

  • “We received this Scottish Cup of Friendship also known as quaiche or quaich as a wedding gift.”

    Archive 2008-03-01

  • “The quaich is used as a favour at many Scottish weddings, being presented to all at the top table, at christenings to celebrate the new life or gifted to friends as a symbol of friendship.”

    Archive 2008-03-01

  • “It is said that water drunk from a silver quaich tastes crisp due to the clearing effect of silver.”

    Archive 2008-03-01

  • “The guest reciprocates the gesture by drinking the whisky from the quaich and thus expressing his bond of friendship to the host.”

    Archive 2008-03-01

  • ““Quaich-quaich,” from their strange loud voice, which seems to repeat these words in various and not unmelodious intonations.”

    The Malay Archipelago

  • “I let him run on in this key till we came to the change-house of a widow -- one Fraser -- and as she curtsied at the door, and asked if the braw gentlemen would favour her poor parlour, we went in and tossed a quaich or two of aqua, to which end she set before us a little brown bottle and two most cunningly contrived and carven cups made of the”

    John Splendid The Tale of a Poor Gentleman, and the Little Wars of Lorn

Show 10 more examples...

Lists

These user-created lists contain the word ‘quaich’.

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • qroqqa On the other side of the world,
    you pass the moon to me,
    like a loving cup,
    or a quaich.
    —Carol Ann Duffy, 'World' Aug 20, 2010

  • chained_bear "Turning, Colum picked up a silver quaich from its place on the tartan-covered table behind him. He lifted the heavy eared cup with both hands, drank from it, and offered it to Dougal."
    —Diana Gabaldon, Outlander (NY: Delacorte Press, 1991), 187 Jan 2, 2010

‘quaich’ has been looked up 1402 times, added to 12 lists, commented on 2 times, and has a Scrabble score of 20.