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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PICKANT, ppl.adj. Also picken (Sc. 1808 Jam.), -in. Deriv. pickenie (Bwk. 1825 Jam.). Of speech, etc.: piquant, biting, tart; of cheese: pungent, strongly-flavoured (Sc. 1825 Jam., “this peculiar taste . . . is produced by dipping the cheese, after it has been taken from the press, for a few days in the oat-meal tub”; ne.Sc. 1965).Sc. 1725 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) III. 233:
This moneth we have Foreman's Letter to Pultney in print. It's pickant and biting.Ayr. 1821 Galt Ayr. Legatees x.:
Many “pickant jokes”, as Miss Becky described them, were cracked by the doctor.Abd. 1923 H. Beaton Benachie 177:
Fess in aboot that heelie o' cheese. Ye'll a' like it, 'caus' it's picken.Abd. 1961 People's Jnl. (16 Sept.) 7:
An' fit wis mair satisfyin' tae a hungry loon than a bit breid an' butter an' a gweed knite o' pickin' cheese?