ouche

English

Etymology

From Middle English ouche, from nouche, which in phrases like a nouche was re-analyzed as an ouche (rebracketing). From Anglo-Norman nusche and Old French nusche (with metanalysis), from a Germanic source; compare German Nusche, Proto-Germanic *hnuts.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /aʊtʃ/
• Rhymes: -aʊtʃ

Noun

ouche (plural ouches)

1. (historical or poetic) A brooch or clasp for fastening a piece of clothing together, especially when set with jewels or valuable.
   • [1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Wyfe of Bathes Prologue”, in The Canterbury Tales (in Middle English), [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, folio xl, recto, column 2:

     My huſbonde had a legende of his lyfe^{[sic – meaning wyfe?]} / Eriphilem that for an ouche of golde / Hath preuely vnto the grekes tolde / Where that hir huſbonde hyd him in a place / For which he had at Thebes ſory grace.

     My husband had a legend of his wife, / Eriphilem, that for a brooch of gold / Has privily unto the Greeks told / Where her husband had hidden himself in a place, / For which he had at Thebes a sad fate.]

   • [1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum xiv”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book XX, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC, leaf 411, verso; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC, page 822, lines 31–33:

     [A]nd the hors trapped in the ſame wyſe doune to the helys wyth many owchys y ſette with ſtones and perlys in gold to the nombre of a thowſand […]

     And the horse [was] trapped [i.e., adorned] in the same wise down to the heels with many brooches set with stones and pearls in gold to the number of a thousand […]]

   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

     a Persian mitre on her hed / She wore, with crownes and owches garnished […]

   • c. 1609–1622?, John Fletcher, “The Womans Prize: Or, The Tamer Tamed”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act III, scene v, page 113, column 2:

     Nay more than this; I find too, and finde certain, / VVhat Gold I have, Pearle, Bracelets, Rings, or Owches, / Or vvhat ſhe can deſire, Govvns Petticotes, / VVaiſtcotes, Embroydered-ſtockings, Scarffs, Cals, Feathers, / Hats, five pound Garters, Muffs, Masks, Ruffs, & Ribands, / I am to give her for't.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 28:11:

     With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.

   • 1839 March, William E[vans] Burton, “Leaves from a Life in London. No. VI. Coralie, the Coryphee.”, in William E. Burton, editor, Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine and American Monthly Review, volume IV, number III, Philadelphia, Pa.: William E. Burton, […], →OCLC, pages 158–159:

     A Grecian bandeau of white satin riband, tied round the head, with two long ends fluttering in the air—a profusion of false curls—a prodigality of glitter in the shape of tinsel, false diamonds, fingers full of rings, with “brooches, pearls, and ooches” innumerable—and the general befitting appurtenance of the geese wings—characterized the appearance of these ladies of the corps de ballet.

   • 1896, Rudyard Kipling, “The Story of Ung”, in The Seven Seas, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLC:

     There would be no pelts of the reindeer, flung down at thy cave for a gift, / Nor dole of the oily timber that strands with the Baltic drift; / No store of well-drilled needles, nor ouches of amber pale; / No new-cut tongues of the bison, nor meat of the stranded whale.

Alternative forms

• nouch, ooch, ouch, owch