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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Byke, Bike, n. Also: byk, byik. [Northern ME. bike (c 1300), byke, of obscure origin.]

1. A hive (of bees); a nest (of ants). c1420 Wynt. iii. 207.
He … fand syne in his [sc. the lion's] hevyde A byk of beys a1500 Prestis Peblis 514.
His wounds war fillit ful of fleis, As euer in byke thair biggit onie beis 1513 Doug. iv. vii. 81.
Lyke emmotis grete Quhen thai depulȝe the mekill byng of quhete, And in thar byke it careis Ib. xii. x. 86.
Quhen that the hyrd hes fund the beys byke a1568 Bann. MS. 249 b/33.
Quhen … walx is wrocht withouttin byk or be 1695 Ann. Banff II. 64.
Some of John Leel's children [delated] for holling a bees' byke … in tyme of sermon

b. transf. A dwelling or abode; a den. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 406.
[He has] Mony burgh, mony bour, mony big byke 1513 Doug. viii. iv. 26.
Cacus, … That in ȝone fendlich hole dwelt hym allane; A hellys byke, quhar sonnys beme nevir schane

2. A swarm, esp. of persons. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 271.
Ane tod was ouirset with ane bike of fleis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5803.
In that court sall cum mony one Off the blak byik of Babilone 1567 G. Ball. 105.
Thair sinnis schawis thay ar a bludie byk 1567 Sat. P. vi. 33.
How potent was that hornit byke of hell Into this land … It is weill knawin Ib. 124.
Ane cursit byke that cheiflie dois maling c1590 J. Stewart 227 § 110.
Vaine Vousting barkit lyk ane currisch tyk In bailfull bosom of this bitter byk 1605 Reg. Privy C. VII. 89.
It cannot stand with his Hienes honour … that sic a unfamous byke of lawles lymmaris salbe sufferit 1636 Ib. 2 Ser. VI. 333.
[This] fosters the saids theives … to the incourageing of the rest of that infamous byke of lawles limmars