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: 1787-1841, 1937-1956
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INK, n. Sc. usages in combs.: 1. ink-fish, the cuttle fish or squid, Sepia officinalis (Sc. 1905 A. R. Forbes Gael. Names 357). Gen.Sc., common in Eng. fishing dials., so called from the black fluid it ejects. Also simply ink (Ags. 1952 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 358); inker (Bnff. 1930 Fishery Board Gl.); 2. ink-hozick, id. (Bnff. 1919 T.S.D.C. III. 25). See Hosack; 3. ink-piece, an ink-bottle, ink-stand (Fif. 1822 P.R.S. Lang Duncan Dewar (1926) 13); 4. ink-pud, id. (Lth. 1808 Jam.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein). See Pud.1. Sc. 1787 Bee (April 1792) VIII. 284:
The harbour [at Loch Tarbat] swarms with cuttle or ink-fish.Fif. 1937 Scotsman (6 March) 17:
Cuttlefish . . . the old name for them in the coastal villages of West Fife was "swardies," or sometimes "ink-fish," and they were used, when cut up into bits, as bait for catching skate and cod.Abd. 1956 Fraserburgh Herald (13 Nov.):
Inkfish are still in keen demand. This fish has become a delicacy in Italy.4. s.Sc. 1832 Border Mag. I. 334:
Maggy, my dear wee pet, fetch me yon braw book. . . . Dinna knock the ink-pud ower on't.
Deriv. inkie, see quot. (Cai. 1958).Ork. 1841 Trans. Highl. Soc. VII. 116:
The Eday peats are of superior quality, being black, hence called "inkies".
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"Ink n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ink>
