Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BEGECK, BEGEYK, Begeek, Begaick, Begike, Begyke, Begaik, Begeik, Begeick, Begick, v., n., adj. [bə′gɛk, bə′gəik Sc.; bə′gek e.Rs., Bnff.; bə′gik Ags., Abd.; bə′gɛk, bə′gɪk, bə′gəik ne.Sc.]

1 v. “To deceive, to disappoint” (Mry.¹ 1925).Sc. 1793 “Tom Thrum” Look before ye Loup 31:
Never was poor fallow sae begeykit as your great patriot was wi' his Scots pensions.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 10:
The wives about, envy'd the lassie's fare, An' wiss'd her wraking, but begecked were.Abd.(D) 1920 G. P. Dunbar A Guff o' Peat Reek 34:
Got unco sair begeckit Wi' a bluffert i' the ribs.

2. n. A trick, a disappointment.e.Rs.¹ 1929:
Begaick, a “sell,” an unlooked-for disappointment.Mry.¹ 1928:
Begike, begyke, a trick, a misfortune, a disappointment.Bnff.¹³ c.1921:
What a begaik he got, and him sae sure to win.Bnff.³ 1928:
Aye, he got a gey begick about so and so.Abd.(D) 1788 J. Skinner Christmass Bawing in Caled. Mag. 505:
The cleverest Callant that was there, Play himsell sic a slee Begeck that day.Abd. 1932 D. Campbell Bamboozled 51:
Oh! sic a begeik — it's jist you.Abd. 1992 Press and Journal 27 Jun 4:
I got another begeck at the dance when I met David Young, a game dealer, who is writing a book about the deserted island of Stroma in the Pentland Firth. He is lost for one fascinating piece of the island's history. Abd. 1993:
I got an affa begeck fin e quine didna turn up. Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 7:
Weel, Davie got sic a begeck that he did fit the boolie telt him an it skytit alang like a curlin steen, richt tae the verra taes o the Blackbrae gang.Ags. 1776 C. Keith The Farmer's Ha' 14:
After he's raised a needless reek, Syne he begins to grow mair meek, For he meets wi' a great begeek Frae empty binks.

3. adj. Crazy. Prob. shortened for begeickt, with an extension of the orig. meaning. See Begunk, 3.Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 216:
Frae east o't to wast o't there's no' a young blade But's fairly begeick 'bout the minister's maid.