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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WAIK, adj., n. Also wake (Sc. 1875 J. Douglas Wit and Humour 144; Gsw. 1904 H. Foulis Erchie 39; Sh. 1930 Sh. Almanac 185; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Bnff. 1962 Banffshire Advert. (8 Feb.)), waek (Sh. 1902 J. Burgess Some Sh. Folk 94); ¶wek (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); weck (Ork.); wyke (ne.Sc. 1874 W. Gregor Olden Time 67; Abd. 1918 W. B. Morren The Hert's Aye 10, Abd. 1973), ¶wyk-, weyk (Abd. 1865 G. MacDonald Alec Forbes xlv., 1875 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 66), ¶wike (Bnff. 1872 W. Philip It'll a' come richt 149), see P.L.D. § 126.2.; wyek (Cai. 1916 J. Mowat Proverbs 9), wyeck (Cai. 1921 T.S.D.C.), see P.L.D. § 147.1. (1) (c). Sc. forms of Eng. weak (Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 87; Ags. 1897 Bards Ags. (Reid) 238; Sh. 1899 Shetland News (1 April), Kcb. 1901 R. Trotter Gall. Gossip 191, Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai; I.Sc., Cai., Mry., Bnff., Kcd., m. and s.Sc. 1973). [wek; Abd. wəik]

I. adj.

Sc. forms of Eng. weak.Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 39:
"Geud, thoo made me go weck. So thir fowt, er they? I windered whit Tam wur back so early for. Whit er thoo fowt aboot, boy?"wm.Sc. 1986 Robert McLellan in Joy Hendry Chapman 43-4 31:
Puir sowl. We'll let him aff the lave. He's waik.

Sc. usages:

As in Eng. Sc. combs. and derivs.: waken (Sc. 1933 N.E.D.), waeken (Kcb. c.1820 A. Trotter East Gall. Sk. (1901) 99), wyken (Abd. 1923 R. L. Cassie Heid or Hert 37); wake-leggit, with weak legs (Lnk. 1883 W. Thomson Leddy May 121); waikl(e)y (Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Yonderton 51; Ags. 1894 F. MacKenzie Glenbruar 90), wakely (Edb. 1184 R. F. Hardy J. Halliday xiv.; Per. 1895 I. Maclaren Auld Langsyne 238), w'akly (Fif. 1897 G. Setoun G. Malcolm viii.); waikminded (Abd. 1932 J. Leatham Fisherfolk 19); waikness (Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Yonderton xvii.; em.Sc. 1898 H. Rogers Meggotsbrae 161), wakeness (Sc. 1861 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. 125; Abd. 1877 G. MacDonald M. of Lossie II. xviii.; sm.Sc. 1923 R. W. Mackenna Bracken and Thistledown 206), waekness (Sh. 1901 T. Ollason Mareel 25), wykness (Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xvii.).

II. n. In pl.: light, poor quality oats, such as are tossed aside in winnowing (Slg., Ayr. 1911 Scotsman (22–28 Dec.)), short for weak-corn. Also in Uls. dial. and prob. borrowed thence.