Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A two-handled drinking cup.
  • noun A trophy resembling such a cup.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun See quaigh.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun obsolete A traditional, shallow, two-handled Scottish cup symbolising friendship. It was originally used to toast the arrival or departure of a visitor.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Scottish Gaelic cuach, from Old Irish cúach, from earlier cuäch.]

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Examples

  • He had brought a cup, formed from a gourd, which answered the purpose of a "quaich," as it is called in Scotland; and we made our way down to the edge of the stream, where he could dip out a cupful.

    In New Granada Heroes and Patriots William Henry Giles Kingston 1847

  • Turning, Colum picked up a silver quaich from its place on the tartan-covered table behind him.

    Sick Cycle Carousel 2010

  • There was a lessening of the tension over the hall, and almost an audible sigh of relief in the gallery as Colum drank from the quaich and offered it to Jamie.

    Sick Cycle Carousel 2010

  • The guest reciprocates the gesture by drinking the whisky from the quaich and thus expressing his bond of friendship to the host.

    Cup of Friendship Jyothsna 2008

  • The guest reciprocates the gesture by drinking the whisky from the quaich and thus expressing his bond of friendship to the host.

    Archive 2008-03-01 Jyothsna 2008

  • It was a custom to offer a welcome or farewell drink, usually whisky, in a quaich to a guest.

    Archive 2008-03-01 Jyothsna 2008

  • We received this Scottish Cup of Friendship also known as quaiche or quaich as a wedding gift.

    Archive 2008-03-01 Jyothsna 2008

  • It was a custom to offer a welcome or farewell drink, usually whisky, in a quaich to a guest.

    Cup of Friendship Jyothsna 2008

  • The quaich is used as a favour at many Scottish weddings, being presented to all at the top table, at christenings to celebrate the new life or gifted to friends as a symbol of friendship.

    Archive 2008-03-01 Jyothsna 2008

  • It is said that water drunk from a silver quaich tastes crisp due to the clearing effect of silver.

    Archive 2008-03-01 Jyothsna 2008

Comments

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  • "Turning, Colum picked up a silver quaich from its place on the tartan-covered table behind him. He lifted the heavy eared cup with both hands, drank from it, and offered it to Dougal."

    —Diana Gabaldon, Outlander (NY: Delacorte Press, 1991), 187

    January 2, 2010

  • On the other side of the world,

    you pass the moon to me,

    like a loving cup,

    or a quaich.

    —Carol Ann Duffy, 'World'

    August 20, 2010

  • Possibly related to quaff.

    May 8, 2016