Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1877-1913
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†WACK, adj. Also wak, wach, wauch-, and in derivs. wa(u)chie, waghie, woghie.
1. Moist, watery, damp, wet, rainy (Sc. 1808 Jam., a wak day); specif. "applied to cake or scones not properly baked" (Cld. 1880 Jam., wach(ie)). Derivs. wakness, humidity (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.), waghie, woghie, damp, clammy (Sc. 1880 Jam.).Sh. 1899 Shetland News (26 Aug.):
"Is dy socks dry?" "Der a corne wak wi' wadin, bit der no to ca' weet."
2. Only in deriv. wauchie, swampy, boggy (Cld. 1825 Jam.).Edb. 1877 J. A. Sidey Alter Ejusdem 2:
Cauld as it seips frae the wauchie well-e'e.Gall. 1904 S. R. Crockett Raiderland 70:
The Cooran Lane and other burns seek their ways through treacherous sands and "wauchie wallees" to Loch Dee.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables 24:
The drainless furrs were fu' o' water or wauchie at the best.
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"Wack adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/wack>
