Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BYACK, BYAUCH, n. [bjɑk, bjɑ:x]

1. “A useless, good-for-nothing person” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl. s.v. byack).

2. “Applied to anything small” (Ib. s.v. byauch). Hence byacksit, puny, undersized, of a person.Sh. 1898 W. F. Clark Northern Gleams 55: 
Robbie wis a peerie byacksit objec.Ork., Cai. 1825 Jam.²:
“A peerie byauch”: a small child, a puny calf, etc.