Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1705-1757
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†JANK, v., n.
I. v.
1. To trifle (Lth. 1808 Jam.); to desert or jilt; with off, to run off (Ib.); pa.p. jankit, fatigued, jaded (Ib.).Sc. 1731 Chrons. Atholl & Tullibardine Families II. 380:
I wish she be not intised some time hence to make a runaway, and play my boy a slipry trick in janking him.
Hence jankie, adj., not to be depended upon (Kcb.4 1900), and phr.: ¶jank-the-labour, a trifler at work, to trifle at work (Fif. 1825 Jam.).
2. tr. To dodge, elude (Ags. 1975). Mry. 1757 Session Papers, Fowler v. Smith (20 June) 7:
Jean Howie got open the Door, and went out, telling the Deponent and the rest of the Servants, that she had janked the Suspender's Sister.
II. n. A subterfuge, an evasion.Sc. 1705 Observator (26 April) 22:
His pretending to bring witnesses from the East Indies seem'd liker a fair Jank than any proper Defence, seeing it would have delay'd their Tryal some Years.
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"Jank v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/jank>
