Thanks for the link, Bean!

I looked up "ouch" and only found this explanation for the etymology: [<G autsch] . So, can somebody please elucidate on the German? BY - I suspect that this is the same word you mentioned; can you give us its etymology?

I was also interested to learn of another meaning of "ouch":

a clasp. From nousche, a necklace or a collar, whence ME nouche, whence (a nouche being apprehended as an ouche) the later ME ouche, whence the obsol E ouch, a brooch, a clasp

or - the socket of a precious stone, an ornament... The original sense is "socket of a gem," but it is commonly used for gem or ornament. The true form is nouche, but the initial n is often dropped ... a buckle, clasp, bracelet, ... MHG, nusche, nuske, OHG. nusca, nuscha a buckle, clasp, or brooch for a cloak. Prob. Ult. Of Celtic origin; cf. Irish nase, a tie, chain, ring ...

I clasped my napron shut with a napple-shaped nouche.