Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721-1834, 1900
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SUNKET, n.1, adv. Also -it, -ot, suncat. [′sʌŋkət]
I. n. 1. Something (Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. Gl.). Also in pl.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 22:
Lay Sunkots up for a sair Leg.Ayr. 1790 J. Fisher Poems 156:
Think ye, that any body gied me sunket for to lie to you?Kcb.4 1900:
When the pupils could not name a word the Dominie wad say "Ca't sunket, an gang on."
2. Specif. of something to eat, gen. in pl.: eatables, provisions, esp. tit-bits or delicacies (Abd. 1931). Also in Eng. dial. Comb. sunket-time, meal time.m.Lth. 1724 A. Pennecuik Coll. Sc. Poems (1750) 20:
Syne I came unco bravely hame, Whan I got Sunkets in my Wame.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherd MS. 177:
Gin the dead o' night they reach the Sheal And Mashly there got sunkets to her heal.Dmf. 1797 Edb. Mag. (Dec.) 458:
The auld carls wi' suncat rax their wame.Sc. 1815 Scott Guy M. viii.:
Thirty hearts there that wad hae wanted bread ere ye had wanted sunkets.Sc. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (May) 159, (Dec.) 321:
Hame he never came without a kind kiss and sunket for me. . . . At sunket-time on the sunny-side o' a thorn bush.Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 352:
Yet they maun ha'e to quench their drouth, Guid rum or sunkots better.Slk. 1834 Hogg Poems (1874) 342:
I would give you drammock twice a-day, And sunkets on a Sunday morn.
II. adv. Somewhat, rather.Ayr. 1790 J. Fisher Poems 73:
But John I wat he did sit there An hour, I trow, an' sunket mair.
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"Sunket n.1, adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/sunket_n1_adv>
