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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DROKE, DROCK, v. and n. Also drowch. [drok, drɔk, drɔ^ux]

1. v. To drench, to soak (Ork. 1887 Jam.⁶, droke, 1929 Marw., drock; Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 70, droke); “used contemptuously of clothes, meaning to give them a perfunctory wash” (Cai.⁴ c.1920, droke). Gen. found in ppl.adj. and vbl.n.

2. n.

(1) A drenching, in phr. in a droke (drock, drowch) o' sweat, in a bath of perspiration (Ork.¹ 1950, drowch; Cai.⁹ 1950).Ork. 1929 Marw.:
I was in a drock o' sweat when I got to the top o' the hill.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie in Neil R. MacCallum Lallans 51 (1998) 9:
Weel, the Horse tried his very best, bit hid wisno a canny load he hid tae cairry, an i a peerie while he wis i a drock o swaet, an pechan an whessan like onything.

(2) “A heavy, sodden mass, e.g. of fodder, or food” (Cai.⁹ 1939, droke); “meal mixed with water” (Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 70; Cai.⁷ 1940).

(3) (a) “A slovenly person who makes a bad job of any work” (Cai.¹ 1928); (b) a job badly done, a “mess”.(b) Id.:
A droke o' a job.