Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RESPECK, v., n. Also respec (ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Lays (1908) 28; Abd. 1926 Abd. Univ. Review (July) 227), respek (Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) H. 80, Ayr. 1823 Galt Gathering of West (1939) 52; Dmf. 1920 J. L. Waugh Heroes in Homespun 5); raspec (Edb. 1884 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) VIII. 72). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. respect (Lth. 1819 J. Thomson Poems 71; Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxvi.; Gsw. 1922 N. F. Grant Valuable Rival 13; Uls. 1929 M. Mulcaghey Besom Man 85). Gen.Sc. See P.L.D. § 63.2. Sc. usages. [rə′spɛk]

I. v. To regard affectionately, to esteem. Also in Eng. dial. In Sc. there is a greater element of affection than deference in this usage.Sc. 1867 N. Macleod Starling i.:
He was weel respeckit, for he was just and mercifu'.ne.Sc. 1888 D. Grant Keckleton 28:
A weel-respectit man, Matthew Davidson.m.Lth. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 49:
It's no braid claith an' a gowd ring that maks a man respeckit in the kirk, but juist the man himsel.Fif. 1958 T. G. Snoddy Green Loanings 47:
His thocht on ither's trouble aye was set, And that garr'd a, folk haud him weel respeckit.Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 61:
Bit I kent him as Faither. Sax fit twa in his stockent feet he stude, like a muckle respeckit granfaither knock, straicht an heigh an regular's the mairch o the meenit hauns ower its face: ...

II. n. 1. Affectionate esteem or regard, esp. in phr. to show respeck, to attend the funeral of a deceased friend. Gen.Sc.Lth. 1853 M. Oliphant J. Rintoul (1892) vii.:
A homely black-and-white cotton gown, whereby she silently testifies her “respect” for the dead.e.Lth. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep Head 119:
At yer burnin' will be there Fu' mony a lad ye skelpit sair — To show “respeck”.Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 32:
There's twaa wyes o kennin -
Wi yer heid, yer rizzon an muckle respec
For the weel-stored min'; ...

†2. Deriv. respectly, respectable.Sc. 1743 Origins Forty-Five (S.H.S.) 27:
In case you find it not too assuming and in a stile sufficiently respectly you will be so good as take the trouble to deliver it with an appology.