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.
Quotation dates: 1500-1513, 1567-1568, 1631-1700+
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Sonk(e, Sun(c)k, n. [Of uncertain origin. Cf. late 18th c. north. Eng. dial. sunk (1787) ‘a canvas pack-saddle stuffed with straw’ (cf. sense 2 below).]
1. In Doug.: A seat of turf.Also in the later Sc. dial. 1513 Doug. iii iv 30.
We … endlang the sey costis bay, Vp sonkis set [L. exstruimusque toros] 1513 Doug. v vii 44.
Entellus sat on the greyn sonk [L. viridante toro] hym besyde 1513 Doug. vii ii 14.
On grene herbis and sonkis of soft gers
2. A pad or cushion stuffed with straw, esp. as a substitute for a saddle. Also horse sonk.(1) c1500 Rowll Cursing 230 (B).
But heltaris heidtailis sonkis or sadillis a1568 Bannatyne MS 140a/21.
Thy cowche is on ane sonk of stray 1644 Hume Douglas 260.
The Earle of Argyle is bound to ride … And all his habergeons him beside Each man upon a sonke of stray(b) 1631 Buccleuch Household Bk. 3 Oct.
2 suncks 1631 Buccleuch Household Bk. 22 Nov.
For a sunck 1685 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries LVIII 367. 1715 Paterson Ayr & Wigton i 35.
[300 horses] with sunks, hochams, creels, sacks, and ropes [were required] a1721 Wodrow Hist. III (1829) 447.
The horses had all sunks laid on them when brought, but the commander Bonshaw, caused remove them(2) 1669 Philorth Baron Ct. Bk. MS II 43.
Runges to 4 pair creills 12 and to horse sonks 24
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"Sonk n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sonke>
