Dictionary

ouche en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /aʊtʃ/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

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.

Meanings

1. (historical, poetic) A brooch or clasp for fastening a piece of clothing together, especially when set with jewels or valuable.
   • 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. 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:
   • 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. [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:
   • [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 […] [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:
   • 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. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 28:11:
   • a Persian mitre on her hed / She wore, with crownes and owches garnished […] 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →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. 1896, Rudyard Kipling, “The Story of Ung”, in The Seven Seas, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLC:
   • 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. 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:

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