Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡HYKE, v., n.¹ Also hike, heyk. [həik]

I. v. 1. To move with a jerk, “to move the body suddenly by the back joint” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 278; Uls. 1957).Sc.(E) 1868 D. M. Ogilvy Willie Wabster (1873) 13–14:
The gowk wud gowl, and goup, and gab, Wud hyke and hick, and habbernab.

†2. To strike on one side or upward with the head as a cow does (Dmf. a.1838 Jam. MSS. IX. 137).

†3. tr. and intr. To sway, rock, swing, move with an undulating or heaving motion, as of a boat (Sc. 1887 Jam.). Vbl.n. hiking, the pitching motion of a boat (Ib.).Sc. 1887 Jam.:
A nurse hikes a child when she sits swaying it backwards and forwards, and when she tosses it up and down in her arms.Gall. 1901 Trotter Gall. Gossip 405:
She wus heykin't on her knee an singan tae't.Sc.(E) 1933 W. Soutar Seeds in the Wind 23:
An' a snail sall heeze its hornies oot An' hike them roun' an' roun' aboot Gin ye tell a lee.

†II. n. A jerky or convulsive movement.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan II. ii.:
The moss . . . swalled up like a barm-scone, and first gae a hyke this way, syne a hyke that way, then a rift and a rair.