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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Stok(k)is, Stockis, n. pl. Also: stok(k)s, stok(k)es, stokkys, stockes, stocks, stox, stoikis, stoick(i)s. Sing. stock. [ME and e.m.E. stockes (c1325), stokkes (Piers Plowman), stokkis (1503), stokys (1533), stocks (Shakespeare); Stok n.¹] a. The stocks, an instrument of punishment in which a person was confined by the legs; a means of confinement of a prisoner. b. The pillory, = goif stoikis (Goif n. (a)).1659 quot. in (3)(d) may belong in one of the senses of Stok n.¹pl. (1) a1400 Leg. S. ii 11.
He wes firste doungyne, & syn thare Presonyt and put in stokis 1437 Ayr B. Ct. 1 July.
The quhilk John grantit … that he put the said Mareon in stokkis & lokkit thaim be for witnes 1569 Crim. Trials I ii 9.
Convoyit him as captiue … to the toune of Hammiltoune quhair he wes put in stokkis & thairefter compellit to pay ransoume 1607 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 38.
In case they [blank] have not to pay the saidis soume, thair personnis to be incarcereat and haldin in stockis and irons 1611 Reg. Panmure I xcv.
Ane juge or gewer of dome … with power of frie prisone and fastnine in stokis or fethers(b) 1684 Meikle Old Session Bk. 88.
Stocks — 1650 Culross 241.
Elspet Mather, … by jougs and stocks punished(2) c1420 Wynt. iv 134.
He … wmbethoucht hym increly With quhat tormentis men mycht be Punysyde … As fetrys or presonyng, Stokkys, boyis, or banysyng 1540–1 Reg. Privy S. II 581/2.
That thai and ȝe … do justice upoun thame … and to that effect len to him ȝoure presonis, stokis, fetteris and all uthir thingis necessar 1574 Acts III 86/2.
All schireffis stewartis [etc.] … to repair mend and mak sufficient presonis … with irnis and stokkis 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Collistridivm.
Collistridivm … maie be called the joggs … [In Burgh Laws] it is called ane pillorie or stocks or onie band quhair with the craig or hals is bund 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Timbrellvm.
Timbrellvm, … ane kinde of torment, as stocks or jogges 1620 Reg. Great S. 784/2.
To hald and have stockis, joggis, prissounhousis, pitt and gallous(3) 1432 Ayr B. Ct. 28 July.
Jhon of Norway fand ayt that the officer of the ton aw to enter to his challans a man that was put in the stokis 1507–8 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 157.
For the stokis mendyng iiij^d 1531 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 115.
We dischargis all nycht waikeris cuttaris of sleddis of nychtbouris, or keykaris or luikaris under vondokis and durris to be put in the stokis 1551 Acts II 485/1.
The pure folkis that hes na geir to pay the pane foirsaid to be put in the stokis or presonit 1582 Crail B. Ct. 10 Nov.
Jhone Groundystoun being put within the tholbuyth and ward of the said burgh in the stokis and fassingis thairoff 1594 Law Memor. Pref. xlvi.
Hir guidman being in the stokes, hir son torturit in the buits, and hir daughter in the pilniewinks 1622 Crim. Trials III 545.
Becaus the buittis that was than vpone his legis wald nocht, convenientlie, be stowit and placet within the hoillis of the stokis, thai maist insolentlie strak him vpone his bak 1627 Dumbarton B. Rec. 13.
R^t M'Cawlay, besyde his lying all nyt in prissoun, to be laid in the stoks … and find caution for trubellance in tyme-coming 1628 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 210.
To thrie saweris ane day in sawing of aickin jeistis for to be nuttis to the commoun stokis 1673 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 48.
Elspett Winyet to goe to the stoks with a paper on hir face on Satturday nixt or else to paye five pounds Scots … and to paye and satisffie Maister Robert Bennet minister for his gloves wanting(b) 1450 Ayr B. Ct. 20 Dec.
That na mettaris mete mele bot ilk man his awine mele vnder the payn of the setting in the stokkis a day & a nycht 1491 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 255.
That the segirstane sale keip his houris … vnder the payne of puttyne in the stokkis a1500 Peblis to Play 184.
Sewinsum that the tulȝe maid lay gruflingis in the stokkis 1519 Dumfries B. Ct. 13b.
The said Wilȝam to be put xxiiij hours in the stokks 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1443 marg. (B).
Heir sall they harle Chestety to the stokkis c1575 Balfour Pract. 528. 1579 Acts (1597) ii 32b.
Vagaboundes, strang and idle beggars … to bee committed in waird, in the commoun prison, stokkes or irons(c) 1490 Lanark B. Rec. 7.
For a stapill to the stox, ij d. 1523 Dundee B. Ct. I 143a (15 May).
Becaus Gilȝet & Sande Wilȝamson was takaris principall of that burdis thai ar ordanit to be laid in the stox quhill the skipper ger lows thaim(d) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 105/28.
The ȝoung men to thair howses gyd Had bettir lugget in the stockis 1600 Aberd. B. Rec. II 214.
The said persone … being takin out of the stockis, to be had incontinentlie to the joggis, and put thairin 1623 Kinghorn Kirk S. 24.
Wm. Allane quha confessit his brek of the Sabbathe and abussing of his wife … to be layd 24 howris in the stockis & to stand 2 howris in the jougis 1639 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 599.
Robert Shankes to remain … in the stockis during the said space with ane papper on his breist for his drunkinnes 1640 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 618.
Ordanis him … to repair to the mercet croce at nyne houris in the morning and ly ther with ane of his feit in the stockis quhill tuelff houris to the terror of vtheris to commit the lyk in tyme cuming 1658 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 1068.
That the said John sould pay of fyne the sowme of thrie pundis Scottis and that he sall stand in the stockes for the space of thrie houris quhilk thrie pundis is to be payit before he goe out of ward eftir his sitting in the stockes 1659 Rothesay B. Rec. 31.
Timber for building the smiddie … and cause repair and dresse the lock and stocks(e) 1598 Elgin Rec. II 65.
Stoickis 1600 Elgin Rec. II 82.
Stoicks(4) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1154 (B).
This nicht ȝe sall bedryt ane pair of stokkis 1618 Trial Isobel Inch 11.
[They] usit the tortour underwritten, as being most safe and gentill … be putting of hir twa bair leggis in ane pair of stockissing. 1625 Linlithgow B. Rec. 3 June.
Ordainis him to pay ten pundis … and lykewayis in the stock on Satirday nixt fra nyne quhill twelff houres