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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sta(l)k, n. Also: sta(l)ke, stai(c)k, stayk. [ME and e.m.E. stalke (Chaucer), stalk (Wyclif), appar. altered form of ME and e.m.E. stale (Ancr. R.), OE stalu. Cf. ablaut-variants north. Fris. stelk, Norw. stylk, etc.]

1. The stem of a flower or plant, freq. in poetic or quasi-metaphorical use. Also in proverb. use.(1) a1500 Quare Jel. 105.
The lusty colourit rose … Quhen thai ar fairest on thair stalkis newe c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxiv 9.
Halsum herbis vpone stalkis grene 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 104, etc.
Soft gresy verdour … On curland stalkis 15.. Dunb. App. x 4.
Fair lufsum lady … Ȝung brekand blosum ȝit on the stalkis grene Delytsum lilly [etc.] 1649 Lamont Diary 9.
Crieping things … which remained in the head of the stalke of corne(b) a1568 Bann. MS 222b/12.
I trow that it [sc. a rose] be deid And als the stak that it on grew a1606 Dioscoridis Annot. 5.
Anglice Ane hearb hauing ane stak and leaues lyk to ramse 1662 Crim. Trials III 614.
Quhan we tak away the fruit of cornis … we … cuttis … onlie thrie stakis of it(c) a1585 Maitl. Q. 202/50.
Hir bodye small wes widderit and berent As is the staik quhilk someris drouth opprestproverb. 1631 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 65.
It were best that we were upon Christ's side of it, for His enemies will get the stalks to keep, as the proverb is(2) a1605 Montg. Flyt. 273 (T).
Sum [sc. elves, etc.] hobling on hempstaikis [H. ane hempstalk] 1662 Crim. Trials III 608.
Quhan we wold ryd, we tak windle-strawes, or been-stakes, and put them betwixt owr foot 1676 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 76.
His corne staks wes drawne and the tedstroes and cornestalks wer lying on the rod

2. ? A tether or rope for use in tying or leading a horse.Cf. mod. Sc. stalk-raip ‘a rope passed through a ring … having a weight at one end and tied to the horse's stall-halter at the other' (SND, s.v. Stalk n. 4 (1)).Treas. Acc. I, II Glossary's suggestion of ‘the fastening of a halter to the headstall of a horse’ is unconvincing. 1497 Treas. Acc. I 328.
For ane doubil helter with tua stalkis 1497 Treas. Acc. I 348.
For ane helter with tua braid stalkis 1501 Treas. Acc. II 29 (see Helter n.). 1501–2 Treas. Acc. II 33.
For ane stalk to the broune cursouris helter vj d. 1504 Treas. Acc. II 438.
Ane double helter with ane stalk for the Quenes stable 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 412.
To Johne Lethane, sadillar, for sadillis, bridillis, … hors houssis, stalkis, girthis [etc.] 1561 Treas. Acc. XI 65.
For xj heidstaillis to thame witht staikis to the hors 1586–7 Perth B. Ct. 4 Jan.
Poindit ane blak brydell & ane tie but ane bit ane reid hors coller without ane stalk

3. A part, appar. a thin supporting member of an artefact. b. specif. The stem of a cup. ?a1400 Reg. Morton II 173.
Unum saphirum qui castigat sanguinem et habet unum stalk de auro 1568 Crail B. Ct. 9 Nov.
The jugis … ordanis the said Georgis to delyuer the stayk of syluar and bane to the said Bessy or ellis the pryce thairof quhilk is xxx d. strak isay syluar and pryce of the bane iiij s. 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 44.
Ane silver coupe, ane stak of ane fann, and sex silver spoones, weght xv unce xv dropes 1649 Edinb. Test. LXIV 203b.
Twa hinging chandlers with stalksb. 1637 S. Leith Rec. 27.
Ane greate gould coupe … the fit and stalk thairof of silver

c. The vertical member of a cross. Cf. Stok n.¹ 6. 1627–8 Dumbarton Common Gd. Acc. 55.
[Shipmen] … that raid up the gabbart and hoissit up the stalk of the cross at the taking doun of it 1628 Dumbarton B. Rec. 27.
To … causs color the stak of the cross efter it beis oylit

4. A long, thin handle. 1506–7 Treas. Acc. III 269.
For xxix½ unce of silver to be ane pan for the Quene with ane lang stalk 1599 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 709.
10 dos hedder busumes but stakis at ij s. dos. 1655 Dingwall Presb. 268.
Burneing torches through thair cornes, and fyres in thair townes, and thaire-efter fixing thair staicks in thair kaileyeards