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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Traik, n. Also: traike, trake, tra(c)k. [? Cf. Sw. tråk troublesome task, painfulness, tiresomeness. Also in the later dial.] A plague; destruction, ruin; harm; an instance of this. 1513 Doug. iii ii 141.
A cruel pest and traik, … Fell on our membris with sik infectioun, Was na remeid 1513 Doug. ix vi 46.
The trake of deth ne cowth he not put by 1513 Doug. xi viii 111.
Thai haue als feill ded corpsis as haue we Gyf this tempestuus trake [Sm. traike] of the batale On baith the halfis is all owt equale 1563–4 Reg. Privy C. I 260.
That the saidis gudis sall remane upoun the ground … unintromittit with or away takin be ony maner of personis … or utherwayis disponit … except be traik of deid 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 233.
Then Mr. Alexander answered … that it was neither his life nor his blood that he craved and the king said what traiks [then] albeit ye take off your hat 1644 Justiciary Cases III 642.
Jon Robesone … did gif to yow his salutatione ‘Quhat now, Annie, ye witch, ar ye leivand yit?’ To quhom ye maid this anser: ‘Quhat trak Jon quhat ye say’ 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1933) 85.
By looking into the bone, they will tell … if any cattell there will take a trake, as if planet-struck

b. Applied to a person: A pest, a bane, a harmful or destructive creature. 1513 Doug. xi xv 59.
Salf that this wench [sc. Camylla], this vengeabill pest or trake Be bet dovn ded

c. ? A destructive or ruinous episode or period of time. a1568 Scott i 59.
Bot wyte the wickit pastouris wald nocht mend Thair vitious leving … Thai tuke na tent thair traik sould turne till end 1697 Fraser P. 147.
All his cloathes and furniture are worne out be soe long track of imprisonement

d. specif. The worn out, ill or exhausted part (of a flock of sheep). 1627 Rep. Parishes 35.
Ane almous hous … build … for ludging of the poore … and to quhilk the saidis Lordis wer woont caus the traik of thair scheip to be brocht for thair releiff