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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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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.

THICK, adj. Also †thaik (e.Lth. 1703 Trans. E. Lth. Antiq. Soc. IV. 28), (Sh., Ork., Cai., Bnff., Abd., Ags., Fif., Edb., Gsw., Ayr., Dmf., Rxb. 2000s) and Sh. forms tic(k), tik(k). [θɪk; Sh. tɪk]

1. Sc. form of Eng. thick.Sh. 1991 Rhoda Bulter in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 70:
Veeve can I mind dat lang traik trowe da hill,
Whin me feet felt laek lead, bit left hardly a mett
Idda boannie green moss at lay tick idda gyill.
An I grett.

2. Sc. usages.  As in colloq. Eng., very friendly, intimate, in various Sc. similes, as thick as ben-leather, — as crowdy, — as dog's lugs (Per. 1972), — as horse heads, — as three in a bed.Sc. 1820 Scott Monastery Intro.:
You twa will be as thick as three in a bed an ance ye forgather.Sc. 1836 Wilson's Tales of the Borders II. 259:
The two got as thick as ben-leather.Edb. 1876 J. Smith Archie & Bess 23:
Him and me's as thick as doug's lugs.Ags. 1892 A. Reid Howetoon 95:
In the company o' twa derf lookin, English chields, as thick wi' them as crowdy.Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 319:
Dey waar seek cronies an' as tick as horse heds.

Deriv. and phrs.: (1) thickness, familiarity, intimacy; (2) thick and threefaud, very friendly (Sh., Per., Uls. 1972), also as in Eng. dial., in large numbers, closely packed, in a throng (Cai. 1972); (3) to mak thick wi', to ingratiate oneself with (Cld. 1825 Jam.).(1) Lnk. 1858 G. Roy Generalship 171:
Willie and his father-in-law to be, were now, in a manner, scunnersome wi' their thickness.(2) Sc. 1825 Jam.:
Ills come thick and three-fauld on him.Gsw. 1863 W. Miller Nursery Songs 56:
Thick-an'-threefauld in the trance, Bright forms strain'd to be near The glowing hearth.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) viii.:
The twa o' them were juist thick an' three-faud afore they were half-an-'oor thegither.Cai. 1928:
Goin' into 'e hall thick an' three-fauld.

3. Gen. combs. and deriv.: (1) thick back, the variegated sole, Solea variegata (Sc. 1930 Fishery Board Gl.). Also in Eng. fishing areas; (2) thick black, a brand of strong tobacco. Gen.Sc.; (3) thickness, a dense fog or sea-mist (Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Sh., Abd., em.Sc., Lnk., Wgt., s.Sc. 1972). Obs. in Eng.(2) Sc. 1928 H. Lauder Roamin 41:
A chunk of “thick black” . . . This tobacco is not very well known to smokers outside of Scotland and Ireland. It is a particularly pungent brand.(3) Sh. 1881 Williamson MSS.:
To set up a tikness; to stand wi a tikness afore 'im.

4. Of a thick-set build, muscular, burly (Sc. 1905 E.D.D.; Ork., n., em.Sc., Wgt. 1972). Obs. in Eng.Edb. 1700 Edb. Gazette (1–5 Feb.):
Thomas Gibson, a laigh thick man, rudie fac'd.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 69:
Thick Jamie Bud, lang Sandy Kay.