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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WAUKEN, v., n. Also waaken, waukin, waulken, wakn. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. waken (Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 214; Ayr. 1787 Burns Again rejoicing Nature vi.; Sc. 1815 Scott Antiquary xxi.; Per. c.1850 Harp Per. (Ford 1893) 149; Kcb. 1897 A. J. Armstrong Robbie Rankine 35; Ags. 1899 Barrie W. in Thrums vi.; Cai. 1902 J. Horne Canny Countryside 177; Abd. 1924 L. Coutts Caul' Nor'-East 14; Gsw. 1933 F. Niven Mrs. Barry i.; Sh. 1962 New Shetlander No. 60. 25, waaken; Sc. 1965 Weekly Scotsman (8 April) 15 . waulken). Gen.Sc. [wɑ:kn, wǫ:kn]

I. v. 1. As in Eng., to arouse (oneself or another) from sleep, still more commonly used in Sc. than in Eng. where wake is the usual idiom (Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 53). Hence ppl.adj. waukened, awake (Sh., n.Sc., em.Sc. (a), Wgt. 1973). Vbl.n. waukenin, awaking (Sc. 1825 Jam.), used fig. in phr. a cauld waukenin, of a very bad farm (Ib.).Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 56:
They're wauken't fin we're snoozin'.Abd. 1968 Buchan Observer (20 Aug.) 2:
Every mornin' at five sharp Knowie came up the stone stair at the back and rapped with his knuckles on my chaumer door. “Are ye waukened, lad? ”

2. tr. and fig. To chastise (Abd. 1825 Jam.). Vbl.n. waukenin, a severe reproof, a dressing down (Sh., ne., em.Sc. (a), Ayr., Wgt. 1973).Sc. 1825 Jam.:
My certie, that is a waukenin.

3. intr. with on: (1) to lose one's temper with (someone), to break out on (Ork., n.Sc. 1973).Sc. 1825 Jam.:
O! how she wauken't on him! and gi'ed him an awfu' flyte!Fif. 1879 W. D. Latto Song Sermons 23:
Had Janet been like some women, she would have waukened on him to some purpose.Abd. 1950:
If ye dae that again, my lad, I'll wauken on you tae some tune.

(2) to become animated in, to warm to (one's subject).Sc. 1825 Jam.:
He wauken't on his sermon.

4. Sc. Law: to revive (a process in the courts) in which no further action has been taken for a year after the original calling of the summons, now obtained by a minute and an order of a judge consequent thereon (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 212). Vbl.n. wakening, esp. in phrs. action, minute, summons, etc. of wakening. See Sleep, v.¹, 3.Sc. 1700 Records Conv. Burghs 308:
Ane actione and cause of declarator first raised . . . and thereafter wakned and insisted upon befor the lords of councill and session.Sc. 1714 W. Forbes Decisions Pref. xiii.:
If no Application for a Hearing be made within a Year, the Cause falls asleep, as we say, and must be rous'd by a Summons of Wakening executed against the Defender.Sc. 1763 Session Papers, Skene v. College of St. Andrews (12 Dec.) 4:
After leading this proof, the cause fell asleep; but has been lately wakened by the college.Sc. 1819 Edb. Ev. Courant (25 Jan.):
A Summons of Wakening and Transference has been raised, which will be called in the Teind Court.Sc. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 1032:
Where, at any time after calling, no judicial proceeding takes place in the action for a year and day, the depending process merely falls asleep, and may then be wakened at any time within the period of the long prescription, either by written consent of parties through their counsel, or by an action of wakening.Sc. 1875 Life of Stevenson (Balfour 1922) 120:
When Stevenson reached home, he found a brief waiting for him with instructions to “waken ” a certain case the next day before this very judge.Sc. 1907 Acts 7 Edw. VII. c.51 s. 102:
The sheriff may pronounce an interlocutor wakening the cause and thereafter proceed with it.Sc. 1946 A. D. Gibb Legal Terms 83:
Most civil actions fall asleep after the lapse of a year without any step of procedure having been taken. They must then be wakened by a Minute of Wakening.

II. n. In comb. wauken-up, a scolding, rebuke, a gingering-up (Abd. 1973).Abd. 1926 M. Argo Makkin o John 20:
It wad be a richt plisky gin ye gied them baith a bit o' a wauken up.