Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1732-1748, 1850-1929
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TURK, prop.n., adj., v. Sc. usages:
†I. n. Phrs. 1. to play turk at, to repel fiercely, to put up a savage fight against; 2. Turk upon Turk, some kind of fabric used in upholstery, poss. a mixture of wool and canvas with a thick pile, like a Turkish carpet, moquette. Cf. Fr. velours à la turque, Turkish velvet.1. Ayr. a.1851 A. Aitken Poems (1873) 69:
Their swindling tricks he aye play'd turk at [of a fierce watchdog].2. Sc. a.1733 New Bk. Old Ballads (Maidment 1844) 62:
To add some five or six plies Of good Turk upon Turk.Sc. 1748 Caled. Mercury (10 March):
Turk upon Turk Beds, Feather-beds and blankets.Ayr. 1870 J. K. Hunter Life Studies 77–8:
A Turk-upon-Turk bed. . . . Their Turk-upon-Turk hangings.
II. adj. Fierce, truculent, sullen (ne.Sc., Ags. 1973).Ags. 1850 A. Jervise Brechin Cat Case 1:
As turk an' selfish as the De'il.wm.Sc. 1903 “S. Macplowter” Mrs. McCraw 28:
The minister lookit gey turk.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 20:
Gin ye didna buy something fae 'im he wis fell turk.
III. v. To become very angry, break out in rage (Abd. 1973).
[O.Sc. turk, a kind of cloth, 1660.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Turk prop. n., adj., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/turk>
