Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PARROCK, n., v. Also parrok, parreck, parrick, par(r)ack; parrach, -ich. Sc. usages:

I. n. 1. A small enclosure or pen (Dmf. 1808 Jam., parrok; s.Sc. 1869 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 724), esp. one used for familiarising a sheep with a strange or neglected lamb (Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 152; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., parrock, parreck; Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 258; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Dmf., Wgt., s.Sc. 1965); fig. a small or poky room in a house (Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. XIII. 34, a parrack o' a place). Also in Eng. dial.Sc. 1882 Trans. Highl. Soc. 146:
Along the north wall are erected a row of twenty houses, “parricks” or pens, the roofing of which is made by fixing timber from the top of the wall to the posts which form the doors and fronts of the pens.Rxb. 1914 Kelso Chron. (11 Dec.) 4:
It very soon puts the milk off a lean ewe if she is to stay in a bare, “keb” park any length of time, after perhaps a night in a parreck.Dmf. 1925 Scottish Farmer (24 Jan.):
In stormy lambing weather, it is a good plan if you have a handy kebhouse or parack.Bwk. 1927 R. S. Gibb Farmer's 50 Years 161:
A wild, Cheviot gimmer was in the “parrack,” and in a second the flake-gate closed.em.Sc. 1947 Scots Mag. (April) 13:
A gead through the stable an' roond a' the parricks an' the closes.

2. A term of endearment for a baby enclosed in its mother's arms, “little lamb” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 122); also dim. parichie, id.; by extension, a small neat person, a little dandy or doll (Gregor). Phs. short for parrock-lamb.Bnff. 1880 Jam.:
Ye're my ain wee parich.

3. A group of people, animals or things closely packed or huddled together, a bustling, stirring crowd, a mob; a conglomeration of objects (Mry. 1813 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. Gl.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 122, parrich); also dim. parrachie, id. (Abd. 1956).Ags.¹⁹ 1948:
Sic a parroch! A some parroch.Abd. 1956:
A parrach o birds, o fowk.

¶4. A state of confusion, a “pickle”, mess. Phs. a mistake for Farrach, n., 2.Bch. 1930:
Sic a parroch as he wis in fan the horsie lairt i' the bog.

II. v. 1. tr. To confine (animals, etc.) in a parrock, to enclose, shut up, imprison, herd together; specif., of a ewe with a lamb which it is intended she should foster (Rxb. 1787 Burns Border Jnl. (Ferguson 1943) 122, parreck, 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.); ppl.adj. parrockit, enclosed, confined, huddled together (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also used of persons, and fig.Ags. 1825 Jam.:
Sheep are said to be parrach'd in a fold, when too much crowded. It is applied to machinery when in the same state.Slk. 1830 Hogg Tales (1874) 456:
There were the two parrocked together, like a ewe and a lamb, early and late.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 4:
Parrackeet in ov a ceetie, mang reekin lums an chowkin smuists.

2. Ppl.adj. parroched, of a small space, room, etc.: overcrowded, mobbed with people or animals (Ags.¹⁹ 1948).