Waucht

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. A large, hearty swallow or long pull of a liquid, especially ale or whisky ; to take such a deep drink from a cup, glass or flagon
2. A generous gulp of liquor taken in one go ; the act of drinking heartily and at length from a vessel
3. In Scots usage, a long and thirsty draught of drink ; to swallow large quantities of a beverage with gusto

Etymology: "Waucht" is a Scots word meaning to gulp down a drink, and its closest relative in English is "quaff". The two words share a root, and "waucht" keeps the older form that English has since softened. In Scots the word is pronounced with a hard, guttural "ch" at the end, which is the same sound that once stood where English now has "f" in "quaff". The pairing is a useful reminder that Scots and standard English split from common ancestors and then kept different sounds for the same verb. The word is used as both a verb and a noun, so a Scot may waucht a dram of whisky or simply take a waucht of it. Both uses describe the same quick, hearty swallow.

Synonyms: draught, drink, swig, gulp