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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DEEK, v., n. Also dick.

1. v.

(1) To descry; to see; “to look at a person” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; 1942 Zai; Rxb. 2000s). Also used as an int. = “Look out! Take care!” (Ib.). Abd. 1990 Stanley Robertson Fish-Hooses (1992) 106:
Between the twa there wis made a plot and they baith wint oot the door of the hotel, and awa intae Lockie's car. They bolted awa with each ither. Een of the bridesmaids deeked them binging avree thegither.Abd. 1994 Stanley Robertson in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 17:
At last noo she hid discovered the bonniest spring well that ever she hid deeked her een upon. m.Sc. 1999 John Milligan Fifteen Scots Poems 6:
But a rare soond breengin intae ma thochts
That lowses me tae deek, as aye it dis
Tae merk the passin geese. Edb. 1988:
Deek that gadgie. Edb. 1989:
Deek the size o Nicky's car. Edb. 1993 Irvine Welsh Trainspotting (1994) 28:
Draw the curtains, block out the sunlight, block out your own fucking brainwaves, and deek him sniggering like a moron wi a joint in his hand at everything that comes on the poxbox. Bwk. 1986:
Deek the barrie deugle. Peb. 1784 Pan and Pastora (ed. R. D. C. Brown 1832) l. 82:
Slee Ægle deek'd her lover cumin'.Lnk. 1825 Jam.²:
I deekit him, I descried him.

Hence deeker, in thieves' slang: a thief used by the police as an informer, a stool-pigeon. Sc. 1821 D. Haggart Life 22:
We observed a good many deekers watching the prigs.

(2) “To hit (a person, etc.)” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).

(3) To look, seem.Abd. 1990 Stanley Robertson Fish-Hooses (1992) 17:
The gaffer wis anither big rough-deeking gadgie and I thought tae masel that this wis gan tae be anither guffie - but he wis a fine, cheerful man.Abd. 1990 Stanley Robertson Fish-Hooses (1992) 17:
Mi muscles were torn oot of their sockets and mi airms streeked sae far doon that I deeked like a monkey.

2. n.

(1) A peep; a look (Bwk. 1942 Wettstein 58; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Cai., Ags., Fif., Rxb. 2000s), “usually from a concealing or unobserved position” (Watson). Sc. 1996 Big Issue 7-20 Jun 37:
A stroll through the local links would also reveal a rising number of women golfers, and a deek at any track would show it's not just Lynford who looks good in Lycra.Edb. 1991:
Have a deek at that. Edb. 1993 Irvine Welsh Trainspotting (1994) 4:
That meant ah'd git hit fir fuckin back charges fir the shoap oan a video ah hudnae even goat a deek at. Ayr. 1833 J. Kennedy Geordie Chalmers 33:
Quo I, stoppin him short an' takin' a better deek o' his gib.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 7:
Yeh bit sate on the kei-stane o the brig; yeh deek at the gurlin Yill.

Phr.: to keep dick, to keep watch (Ant. 1900 E.D.D.).

¶(2) One who peeps or pries.Rxb. 1901 W. Laidlaw Poetry and Prose 46:
But soon was stopped by “Bet-the-Deek,” Whae said he was a drucken loon.

(3) A blow.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
A deek i' the jaw.