v. Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 4 keche, kecche, kyche, 6 kiche, 6–7 keech, 7 keatch, ketch, 7– keach. [Of obscure origin: cf. CLEACH v. (sense 3).] trans. To take up (water, etc.) with a shallow vessel; to scoop up, ladle out: = CLEACH v. 3.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 235. Ye schal kecche up water [v.rr. kyche, cleche].
1598. Florio, Intingere, to dip in, to kiche up [1611 to keech up]. Ibid. (1611), Attingere,… to draw or keach water.
c. 1682. J. Collins, Salt & Fishery, 89. The Oyle will swim at top, from whence it may be keeched with a pot.
1881. Oxfordsh. Gloss., Suppl., Keach up, to take up water by ladling.
Hence Keaching vbl. sb., in Comb. keaching-ladle; keaching-net = CLEACHING-NET.
1624–5. Althorp MS., in Simpkinson, The Washingtons (1860), App. p. lix. For mending the drag nett & for 2 new keatching netts. Ibid. (1633–4), p. lxiii. To the tinker for mending the keeching ladle in the kitching.
