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 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TEEOCK, n. Also teeack, -ick, -uck; teeou, teeoo, teaoo, teeauw (Ork. 1911 Old-Lore Misc. IV. iv. 185). [′tiək, ′tiu]

1. The lapwing, Vanella cristatus (Ork. 1877 Sc. Naturalist, teeuch, teeou, 1891 Buckley and Harvie-Brown Fauna Ork. 204, teeick, Ork. 1972, teeock, teeoo).Ork. 1868 D. Gorrie Orkneys 194:
The plaint of teeacks.Ork. c.1880 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) VII. 248:
Teeocks bleatin skimmed alang.Ork. 1909 Old-Lore Misc. II. i. 29:
Like a doo or a teaoo.Ork. 1927 H. C. Jean's Garden 26:
The teeoos crying ower the brecks.Ork. 1995 Orcadian 26 Jan 4:
Yesterday morning I saw a solitary lapwing passing over, and wondered if it were a newcomer or a resident. January is rather early for the teeos to come 'home', unless this one has never left; ...

Comb. teeack snaa, teeoo-, a period of stormy wintry weather in March when the lapwings nest (Ork. 1972). Cf. teuchits' storm s.v. Teuchit.

2. The common tern, Sterna hirundo (Ork. 1930).