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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

KWERK, n., v. Also kwark, -ie; quark, -ay, -ie; whark, whirk. [kwærk, kwɑrk]

I. n. 1. The throat, specif. part of the throat of a fish used for bait (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1960). Combs.: (1) kwerka-bait, = specif. usage above (Ib.); (2) kwerkapus, -bus, kwarkabus, quirk-, quarquabus, hwerkapus, hwark-, hwirkabys, whirkabis, a disease of sheep and cattle characterised by a dropsical swelling below the throat (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 163, 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1960). See note and cf. Bolga, Bulga.(2) Sh. 1845 Stat. Acc.² XV. 128:
The principal diseases to which the sheep are liable, are the Vinster, . . . the Water or Quarquabus, the Blindness, and the Scab.

2. A gulp, swallow.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 164:
Noo Robbie teuk a quark oot o' his gless, an' began again.

3. In extended use: any hollow of the body, the armpit, groin, instep, etc. (Sh. 1960).

II. v. 1. To swallow with difficulty, or with noisy gulps, to gurgle (Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 154, 156, quark, whark, Ork.¹ 1929, kwarkie, Ork. 1960); to cough and splutter, to try to clear the throat, hawk. Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 62, 112:
Sheu hosted an' ferkied an' quarkied . . . He raised his craig an' quarkayed twice.Ork.¹ 1929:
The paddie wis wharkin ower a tattie that had stuck in his throat.Ork. 1949 "Lex" But-end Ballans 26: 
He wharkid dere a bonny while Afore he got 'id [button] oot.

2. To speak in a throaty voice, croak.Sh. 1951 New Shetlander No. 27. 6: 
Sed da korbie: "Whit's wrang wi dee, whit's wrang wi dee!" Da aald kraa whirkit aboot an sed: "A'm dat kaald, A'm dat kaald!"