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: 1838-1939
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HASK, adj., n.1, v. Also haisk.
I. adj. †1. Harsh, rigorous, rough.Bwk. 1876 W. Brockie Confessional 194:
[He] swure an aith eneuch ane's bluid to chill; It was in a tone baith hersh and hask.
2. Of touch and taste: hard, dry, rough (Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry, Gl.; Bwk., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also in n.Eng. dial.
†3. Of a cough: dry, hoarse (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also found in Eng. dials.
II. n. 1. A husky cough, a clearing of the throat. Cf. v.Dmf. 1912 J. L. Waugh Robbie Doo 26:
"What's wrang noo?" said Nancy, wi a "hask," for a herrin' bane had tickled her thrapple.
III. v. To give a short, dry cough, to clear the throat noisily, to cough up phlegm (Dmf. 1825 Jam., hask; Slk. Ib., haisk; Ayr. 1902 E.D.D.; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ags., wm.Sc., Dmf., Slk., Uls. 1956). Also current in Nhb. and Chs. dials.Peb. 1838 W. Welsh Poems 25:
They hacket an' they hasket.Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 29:
"'There's something stuck in my hass.' 'Hask it up then.'"Sc. 1939 Sc. Educ. Jnl. (27 Oct.) 1105:
Wi' that Dod hecht, and haisk't, and hocht Or he was in a steuch.
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"Hask adj., n.1, v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 1 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hask_adj_n1_v>
