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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NACKET, n.² Also nackett, -itt; nocket, -it, nokket (Jam.); knockit. Also forms in k-, and reduced form nacky (Sc. 1818 Sawers).

1. A small cake or loaf, gen. baked for children (Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 688; Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.); “a glazed soft biscuit with a dent in the centre, and carraway seeds” (Bnff. c.1900).Sc. 1707 Court of Session Garland (1871) 30:
For rolls, for nacketts, roundabouts, sour kakes.Per. 1737 Ochtertyre Ho. Bk. (S.H.S.) 120:
For two loaves and 12 nackits . 0 1s. 3d.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 43:
The gazing crowd together ran Owre cranes o' nackets jumpin'.Rxb. c.1850 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. (1909) 77:
[On] Hansel Monday . . . each scholar received a glass of toddy and a nacket.

2. A packed lunch, mainly consisting of bread (Gall., Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl., nokket; Dmf. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 364, nocket; Ayr. 1825 Jam.; Bwk. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 156, 1859 P. Landreth J. Spindle 20; Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 351), (knockit Sh.; nacket Edb. 1990s); a light repast or snack between meals (Rxb. 1892 Scots Mag. (May) 405; Kcb.¹ 1900; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai); fig. one's fill. Cf. Nhb. dial. nocket.Edb. 1814 E. P. Nelson Poet. Works 13:
At F . . 's Charlie took his nackit, ‘Tween the hours o' ane an' twa.Sc. 1821 Scott Pirate xi.:
The young gentleman's nacket looked very good.Rxb. 1862 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. (1868) 40:
A nocket in the shape of bread and cheese and a dram.Rxb. 1917 Kelso Chron. (5 Oct.) 4:
It was his constant practice, I believe, when at the plough, to lay the remains of his “nacket ” of home-made bread and ewe-milk cheese at the end of his “landing,” with a view of conciliating the good-will of the unseen powers to himself and his horses.Gall. 1941 Bulletin (Jan.):
School children carry a piece for their nockit.

Comb.: nocket-time, the time for taking a snack.Rxb. 1811 A. Scott Poems 160:
Wi' hamely cottage fare regaled to be At nocket-time.

3. Fig. Enough to surfeit one (of something unpleasant); a disappointment, rebuke, etc.Bwk. 1801 “Bwk. Sandie ” Poems 43:
But, fegs! I trow I gat my nacket — He gae me your unwelcome packet.