A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Jok. Also: Joke, Jock. [A Sc. pet-form of John, equiv. to Jak (Jak n.1).] The name Jock.
1. Prefixed to an epithet to form a quasi-proper name or nickname, in Jok Blunt, Fule, Upaland. = John a.See also Jak stro. — c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 73.
To Jok Fule, my foly fre, Lego post corpus sepultum a1568 Bann. MS. 93 b/13.
Thus said Jok vpalland a1585 Polwart Flyt. 817 (T).
Jok blunt, thrawin frunt
2. Coupled with other men's names, standing for men in general, or, appar., men of common rank as a class (cf. ‘Tom, Dick and Harry’.)See also Jak n.1 1. — c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxii. 25.
At ȝour hie croce, quhair gold and silk Sould be, thair is bot crudis and milk; And at ȝour trone bot … Panshes, pudingis of Jok and Jame c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2655.
Quhen fillokis, in to Fyfe, began to fon, With Joke & Thom than tuke thay thare vayage In Angusse, tyll the feild chapell of Drone 1573 Sat. P. xli. 23.
He neuer huntit benefice, … Thocht he … was als meit for sic office As outher gellie Jok or Johne
3. As a common noun: A (? jocular) term for ‘man, fellow’. 1540 Lynd. Sat. Procl. 218.
Scho may call me ane juffflane Jok a 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvi. 61.
Scho will ressaif na landwart Jok, Thocht he wald frawcht hir hir for a croun
b. As a typical name for a Scotsman. 1641 Sc. Hist. Rev. IX. 363.
When Jock of broad Scotland went south to complain
4. Jock fellow lyke, = Jak n.1 3. a (Jakfallow lyk). 1658 R. Moray Lett. 2 Apr.
Be not so saucy as to talk Jock fellow lyke
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"Jok n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 23 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/dost00070512>