Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1928-1956
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DROKE, DROCK, v. and n. Also drowch. [drok, drɔk, drɔux]
1. v. To drench, to soak (Ork. 1887 Jam.6, droke, 1929 Marw., drock; Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 70, droke); “used contemptuously of clothes, meaning to give them a perfunctory wash” (Cai.4 c.1920, droke). Gen. found in ppl.adj. and vbl.n.
2. n.
(1) A drenching, in phr. in a droke (drock, drowch) o' sweat, in a bath of perspiration (Ork.1 1950, drowch; Cai.9 1950).Ork. 1929 Marw.:
I was in a drock o' sweat when I got to the top o' the hill.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie in Neil R. MacCallum Lallans 51 (1998) 9:
Weel, the Horse tried his very best, bit hid wisno a canny load he hid tae cairry, an i a peerie while he wis i a drock o swaet, an pechan an whessan like onything.
(2) “A heavy, sodden mass, e.g. of fodder, or food” (Cai.9 1939, droke); “meal mixed with water” (Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 70; Cai.7 1940).
(3) (a) “A slovenly person who makes a bad job of any work” (Cai.1 1928); (b) a job badly done, a “mess”.(b) Cai.1 1928:
A droke o' a job.
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"Droke v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/droke>
