To trim a horse’s mane, or a man’s hair, to within an inch or two of the skin.
1776. Strayed or stolen, a sorrel horse,—roach’d back, 3 white feet, &c.—Advt., N. Eng. Chronicle, Jan. 25.
1781. A Black Horse, about 13 and an half hands high, half roach main, &c.—Advt., Royal Georgia Gazette, March 8.
1818. His mane has been divided, and laid on both sides of his neck, and that part that laid on the left side cut off as if to roach him.—Advt., Missouri Gazette, Dec. 25.
1833. His hair was roached, and he wore an air of much dignity.—‘Sketches of D. Crockett,’ p. 38 (N.Y.).
1844. The two other [horses], with roatched backs, and ears glued to their necks, were scrambling and scratching up the earth for some awful purpose as yet undeveloped.—Watmough, ‘Scribblings and Sketches,’ p. 176.
1854. His hair was roached up, and stood as erect and upright as his body.—J. G. Baldwin, ‘Flush Times,’ p. 108.
1889. I roached his mane and docked his tail, and put him in a warm stall with half a foot of straw underneath.—F. Remington, ‘Horses of the Plains,’ Century Mag., xxxvi. p. 335/2 (Jan.). (N.E.D.)
