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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sak, v. Also: sakk, sack(e, sact, sake, sai(c)k. P.p. also sackt. [e.m.E. sack(e (a1547); Sak n.².] tr.

1. To sack, plunder, despoil (a town, etc.).(a) 1559 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 61.
His house at Scone wes sackit and burned 1562-3 Winȝet II 5/3.
That our new citie of Jerusalem suld be sa strang an hald that al the enimeis thairof (as ar infidelis, hæretikis, etc. … ) suld nocht mak thame be force … to sact it or onyways subdew it 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 90.
To suffir his principall house and riche movables being thairin to be sackt 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 72.
[And was not Glasgow] sakkit [before any who dwelt in it were called to their answer] 1585 Bk. Carlaverock I 265.
With his haill forces come to my barony of Johnstoun … and thair brint, slew, herreit, sackit my haill barony, landis, rowmes, and possessiounis(b) 1559 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 61.
The rascall people … went in, finding the yates open, and suddenly fell to work and saked all 1600 Misc. Bann. C. I 147.
Gif he had cryit, ‘My brother is murtherit,’ the same people had saikit that same haill hous c1615 Chron. Kings 10.
Gillus returnit and saickit all the west yllis

b. Said of an inanimate thing: To bring to ruin or destruction. 1571 Sat. P. xxxv 119.
Gif fyre may thair buildings sacke, Or bullat beat thaim downe

2. To despoil, destroy, ruin (a person); also, to murder. Also fig. 1567 Sat. P. v 52.
Reuenge … the cruell act; Spair not to gif thame all ane syse, Quhome ȝe beleif the king did sact [: act] Ib. vii 62.
The quene is cuplit with ane wyffis husband, And farther ȝit, he, quha the king did sack [: tak] 1604-31 Craig i 7.
Melitides … when Troy was wrackt … sigh'd to see them sackt 1645 Lag Chart. 57.
For ther is such resentment amongst my lords freends … that it is intendit to rowen and sake all those that ver actors … in itfig. c1590 Fowler I 44/200.
That lower … Who through to muche desyre wes quyte destroyed and all sackt [: wrack] Ib. 147/8.
Love, quho never tyres To sakk the humbled hartes