Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pauk, Pawk, Palk, n. Also: pauck, pakk-; paik. [Of unknown origin. Also in the later Sc. dial. = a trick, etc., and in mod. north. Eng. (Yorks.) dial. = impertinence, forwardness, also a saucy fellow, also as a verb = to ‘sauce’.] A trick or wile; in plur., trickery.Play a pauk, to play a trick. 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 81.
Prattis ar reput polycy and peralus pawkis [: walkis, talkis, bawkis] 1535 Stewart 51545.
The schiref … Greit wounder had quha playit had that palk [: walk] 1558-66 Knox I. 224.
Many suspected the pauckis and craft of Ringȝen Cockburne 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5818.
And let sic quyet paukis ouir pas c 1575 Waus Corr. 110.
My aduersaris … the Lord prosper thair pakkis 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 255.
In addulterie he was tane Maid to be punissit for his paik [: talk] Ib. 838.
Ane vther Lunden paik he playit a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvii. 68.
A pyet … vhilk thair palks espyde