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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.

YESK, v., n. Also yeisk, yeesk (Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poems II. 60, 220), yisk; met. form yex, reduced yeck (Lth. 1825 Jam.). See also Esk.

I. v. 1. To hiccup, belch (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Abd. 1944). Vbl.n. yeskin, yexin (Knr. 1949).Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 12:
We did pish and spew, and yesk and maunt.Per. 1753 A. Nicol Rural Muse 24:
This trash I'm sure when ye inspect, It's filthiness will make you yeck.Ayr. 1789 Burns Letters (Ferguson) No. 306:
Yestreen, alas! I was sae fu', I could but yisk and wink.Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 239:
Some warslet wi' the yeskin.Abd. 1887 Bon-Accord (23 July) 9:
Twa or three chaps i' the kerridge besides gey jolly kin', yisk-yiskin' tae ane anither as bonny's iver ye heard noo!

2. tr. To vomit, eructate, lit. and fig.Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poems II. 220:
Weel like ye, yeeskin', to be there Though morn's a head-ache.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 154, 163:
It garr'd him yesk his drammach: . . . To yesk his saul awa' in glore.

II. n. A hiccup, belch, the hiccups (wm.Sc. 1741 A. McDonald Galick Vocab. 30; Abd. 1944).n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
He gae a great yesk.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 266:
Drink to help them strunting, which cures the yisk and waterbrash.wm.Sc. 1952 Ballads (Gsw. Ball. Club) V. 19:
The echo dunnered through the lift Wi' mony a yesk and gant and rift.