Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

KEX, n. Also ‡kesh (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), keish (Rnf. 1837 Crawfurd MSS. II. 58); keksi (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., 1947 Sh. Folk Bk. I. 83, Sh. 1959), kek(ka) (Sh. 1947 Sh. Folk Bk. I. 83), kecko (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1959); geik (Cai. 1916 T.S.D.C.), gike (Cai. 1900 E.D.D.); also double pl. form kexes, and dim. kekle. The cow parsnip, Heracleum sphondylium; the hollow or dried stalks of umbelliferous plants (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Now obs. except dial. in Eng.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 228:
Ye maun . . . stand straight up like a rash kekle.