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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HARK, v.¹, n. Sc. usages. The form herk is also occas. found (Slk. 1813 Hogg Queen's Wake 178; Lnk. 1923 G. Rae 'Mang Lowland Hills 80). [Sc. hɑrk, s.Sc. hærk]

I. v., tr. and intr. 1. To listen (to), hearken. Gen.Sc. Now arch., dial. or poet. in Eng.Ayr. 1786 Burns Vision v.:
Had I to guid advice but harkit, I might, by this, hae led a market.Ags. 1834 A. Smart Rambling Rhymes 118:
To his master's council harkit, An' wagged his tail.Abd. 1839 A. Walker De'il at Baldarroch 30:
How oft hae ye been fain to hark The poet's lays.Gsw. 1879 A. G. Murdoch Rhymes 51:
Thanks to his “bonnet,” what he said Was aye by or'nar harkit.Lth. 1920 A. Dodds Songs 28:
And never yin wad venture in, Bit ey they watched and harket.

Hence h(e)arker, (1) a listener, eavesdropper; ¶(2) in pl. = the ears.(1) Sc. 1825 Jam.:
Harkers never heard a gude word of themselves.Fif. 1898 S. Tytler Mrs Carmichael's Goddesses x.:
It is . . . a temptation to hearkers — if there be a hearker in the yard.(2) Bwk. 1823 A. Hewit Poems 85:
Gif I had time I wad her harkers pu'.

2. To whisper (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 197; I.Sc., n.Sc., Ags. 1956). Vbl.n. harkin, whispering (Sh. 1897 Shetland News (29 May)).Edb. 1720 A. Pennecuik Helicon 78:
He said to me, its bawdy, I had best hark it, Lend me your Lug, Giles, and I'll round it in.Abd. 1746 W. Forbes Dominie Deposed lii.:
Then whisp'ring low to me she harked.Fif. 1806 A. Douglas Poems 51:
Tho' I hark it in your lug, Ye need na tak' offence.Rxb. 1821 A. Scott Poems 22:
Wat stowlins harks in Lizzie's lug.Dmf. 1873 A. C. Gibson Folk Speech Cmb. 116:
But first the lassie low I herkit, “I'll come again?” was what I said.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 12:
The young lethy wus aye harkin tae him.Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sk. and Poems 82:
Peerie Aandrew harkit somethin' ta Liza, bit I didna catch it.Abd.²⁷ 1930:
I harkit intil his lug.

II. n. A whisper (Sh., Cai., Abd. 1956); fig. “a secret wish or desire” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.).Kcb. 1814 W. Nicholson Tales 242:
Whan, to crown a' his hopes in a hurry, She ha'flins said aye in a hark.Slk. 1820 Hogg Winter Ev. Tales II. 207:
Take heart till I tell you the hark of my mind.Cai. 1916 J. Mowat Proverbs 5:
“A hark in Hoy heard in Greenland” is said of a secret told in such a whisper that it is heard all around.