Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1886-1926
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KEELICK, n., v. Also keelock, -ak; keelup, keilup, -op, kellop.
I. n. 1. A blow, stroke (Ags. 1808 Jam.; Abd., Kcd. (keelup), Ags., Fif. 1959).Per. 1902 E.D.D.:
I'll gie ye a keelup on the side o' the head.
†2. Fig. Anger, trouble, vexation (Ags. 1808 Jam.).
II. v. Only in vbl.n. keelakin, a thud, a hard blow (Abd. 1959), also written as keerikin, id., a heavy fall (Fif. 1825 Jam.; Abd. 1959); a sharp flick on the side of the face with thumb and forefinger (Mry.2 c.1880).Abd. 1886 Northern Figaro (27 Nov.) 10:
Gi'en that loon sic a keelikin' as garred him tak' till's bed for near a week.Abd. 1926 Abd. Univ. Review (July) 221:
Gin ye had fa'n o' them, ye micht a' gotten a bonnie keelakin.
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"Keelick n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/keelick>
