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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SQUAIK, v., n. Also squake, squeck, squack, squaak, squaich, -gh, squech, squaach, squach, -gh, squeech. [skwek, skweç, skwɑx]

I. v. To squeal, squeak, screech, scream, squawk, squall, esp. of birds or trapped animals (Cld., Slk. 1825 Jam., squaigh; Abd., Kcd. 1921 T.S.D.C.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., squeck; Ork., Ags., Per., wm.Sc., Kcb., s.Sc. 1971). Also fig. Also vbl.n.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 151:
A mither wanted whiles, Her squaching bairnie gude.Sc. 1827 G. R. Kinloch Ballads 181:
The pretty babe within her sides, The cauld it garr'd it squake.Rnf. 1842 R. Clark Rhymes 19:
The helpfu' han' o' howdie, Brings squechan gear.Lnk. 1867 J. M. Peacock Reverie 188:
Up in their holes the hoolets screech'd, The wul-cats squeel'd an' squakit.e.Lth. 1896 J. Lumsden Battles 49:
Their pipes an' fiddles skirl an' squeck.Hdg. 1903 J. Lumsden Toorle 213:
His Minnie gave him sooks for squackin'.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick i.:
It's mair like a littlinie squaakin.Sh. 1957 Sh. Folk-Bk. III. 60:
A kishie-foo o Faroe braandy wisna ta be squeeched at.wm.Sc. 1988 Scotsman (6 Feb) viii:
And presently there was the squeching of a starling, then the commotions and fluttering of birds disturbed. Within seconds there was a second squeching. m.Sc. 1997 Liz Niven Past Presents 14:
A swine squeals atour the yerd
Trotters clicking on corbled tiles
Dirt fear flashin in its een
A saw-like squaiking
Fae the screed in its thrapple.

Hence deriv. squaicher, the starling, Sturnus vulgaris (Ayr. 1890, 1929 Paton & Pike Birds Ayr. 12, squakker).

II. n. A loud scream, screech, esp. the cry of a trapped bird or animal (wm.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Kcb. 1900, squaich; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Abd., Kcd. 1921 T.S.D.C.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., squeck; Cai., Per., wm., s.Sc. 1971).Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 159, 176:
The ducks I heard giein queer eldrich squakes. . . . Gieing the hearty scraigh and squagh, While the fumart hang by him fu' stout.Ayr. 1879 R. Adamson Lays 102:
A squech or twa on Natur's whustle.

Deriv. and combs.: squecky, the blackbird, Turdus merula (Dmf. 1958); squeaky jocks, grape hyacinths, Muscari racemosum (n.Ags. 1953).