A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1460-1575
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Rouk, v. Also: rouke, rowk. [ME and e.m.E. ruke(n (Ancr. R.), rouke(n (Rolle), of unknown origin. Cf. Norw. dial. ruka to crouch, also ON hrúga to heap, pile up (mod. Shetl. dialect rug (Jakobsen)).] intr. To rouk and roun, to huddle together (with (to, till) another or others) in a group, to talk together intimately or secretly. 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 8498.
Nocht vsitt to sitt [etc.] … Na in the rew with nane rouke and rovn c1460 Regimine Principum 101 (Marchm.).
It is degrading til a kingis crown To mel him with smal wrechit besines, Na with na tutularis for to rouk na rown a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 18.
Na with men for to rowk & rowne 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 185.
And ay schir flattre bure the pryce Roundand and rowkand, ane tyll vther a1568 Bannatyne MS I p. 45/23.
Syne to the lordis to rouk and roun 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 45.
The Inglismen begouth to gif bakkis, and to rouk and round, sayand [etc.]
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"Rouk v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rouk>
