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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Harsk, a. Also: arsk, hars. [ME. harske, harsk (a 1300), e.m.E. hars, harsh(e, MLG. and mod. G. harsch; also Dan. harsk, rancid, Norw. harsk, rough, rude. Cf. Hask a.]

1. Hard and rough to the touch or contact. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 459.
Syne gar he arsk hare ta To frot him with Ib. xliii. 22.
Next hire flesch … Scho had al tyme the harsk hare 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 39.
On raggit rolkis of hard harsk quhyn stane Ib. 183.
With hirstis harsk of waggand wyndill strays Ib. x. xii. 60.
With spaldis hard and harsk Ib. xi. vii. 57.
On thir wild holtis harsk [R., 1553, hars]

b. Harsh to the taste. c1580-90 Rules of Health (Moray Mun.).
Neither harsk nor austeir gustit

2. Of an unpleasant nature. c1420 Wynt. ix. 27.
Thus efftere a royd harsk begynnyng Happynnit a sofft and gud endyng

3. Severe, offensive, rude. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 122.
This prolocutioun Was shamfull harsk and rycht felloune c1460 Consail Wys Man 288.
Harsk wordis generys myslovinge 1610 Hume in Calderwood VII. 87.
If yitt that seeme harske, … will not that same resoun make against the monarchs

4. Unpleasant to the ear. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 21.
With bad harsk speech and lewit barbour tong 1560 Soc. Ant. VII. 451.
His voyce wes rawky and harske