1795 J. Sinclair IX. 217 The soil..lies on a gravel, or what is called here a rachelly bottom, except in some places where it is tilly.
1888 S. O. Addy 187 Ratchelly soil is a soil containing many small stones.
1904 J. P. Kirk in V. 44/1 The ground wor so ratchelly wheer they sunk the well.