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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Nek, Neck, n.¹ Also: neke, necke, nec(c, neek, neak, nak. [ME. and e.m.E. nekke, necke, (14th c.) nek, neck, OE. hnecca the back part of the neck.]

1. The neck of a person or animal. 1375 Barb. vii. 468 (E).
The hund … gan him ta Rycht be the nek and till him dreuch a1400 Leg. S. i. 362.
And strik Symonis nek intwa Ib. xviii. 226.
Hayre scho had, quhyt & streke, Rekand na forthire na hir neke c1420 Wynt. iv. 1241. 1456 Hay II. 43/9.
A strake … with a drawin suerd in the nek c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1554.
Nec a1500 Henr. Fab. 577 (Bann.). c1475 Wall. i. 241. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 650.
Sum in the nek gaue me feil dyntis dowre c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 28.
Quhill preistis come in with bair schevin nekkis 1513 Doug. ii. viii. 62.
Heich vp hir nek strekand forgane the son Ib. iv. 66, xii. i. 16. c 1540 Glencairn in Knox I. 73.
Hurkland with huides into our neck 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 182.
For wantones, sum braik thare neckis 15.. Clar. v. 2349.
Clariodus … laid him on his hors nek him before 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2711.
I pray the deuill to brek thy nek Ib. 2881. 1570 Leslie 82. a1578 Pitsc. I. 55/5.
[He] strak him … throw-out the nek 1567 G. Ball. 105.
With hurklit hude ouer a weill nureist neck 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 67. c1610 Melville Mem. 120.
Bot sche culd not refrain from putting hir hand in his nek to kittle him smylingly 1627 Justiciary Cases I. 73.
Ane lang lynning courche … quhilk he threw about hir neck or craig 1629 Ib. 102. 1674 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 134.
To stand with their necks in the haskes of the said pillory

2. In various allusive, proverbial, and figurative expressions.a. With hele: see Hele n.¹ 2 for further examples. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 84.
He … all bedret him Evin quyte from nek till heill 1679 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. VI. 644.
Imprison the soger neek and hieells in fetters 1696 Inverness Kirk S. 66.
Otherwise he would cause tye him neck and heal

b. In the neck of, = on top of, immediately after. (But cf. also Nik n.) — 16.. Herries Mem. 24.
In the neck of this comes intelligence

c. (Of punishment, disaster or the like) to strike one in the neck, to overtake one. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xx. 36.
Bot dowt siciyk sall stryk thé in the neck 1535 Stewart 16069.
Reprevit him … Of the same thing straik him self in the necc Ib. 21598.
For of ane thing he tuke so greit ane feir The quhilk sone followit efter in effect Or euer he wist it straik him in the neck

d. (Of a charge) to lie on one's nek (= upon one). — 1513 Doug. vi. ix. 208.
Evyrmar the charge [of sin] lyis on thar nek

e. To stoup the nek, to submit. — a1500 Henr. Fab. 1766 (Bann.).
The nek to stoup quhen it the strake sall get, Is sone eneuch

f. With the fig. use of Ȝoke n. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 812.
A mane … That Godis ȝok bare on his nek c1420 Wynt. vi. 1982.
That he wald put in yhok hys neke Ib. 2051.
Syne thow wald hawe put hys neke In till thi yhoke 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1411.
I mon draw furth, the ȝok lyis on my nek a1568 Bann. MS. 263 b/26.
Of thame that puttis thair nek this ȝok to draw 1596 Dalr. I. 190/17.
The Scottis King frome the King of Britannies nek brak the Romane ȝok c 1616 Crim. Trials III. 587.
And the judges Haif enterit thair nekis vnder the ȝoke of theiffis 1664 Pitcairn Spiritual Sacrifice 285.
O then! put in ȝour necks under the yoke and lend a lift

g. The hair in one's neck: see Hare n.² 1 fig. and Hair n.¹ 2.

h. To have ane ey in one's nek, to look behind one, be circumspect. An eye in one's neck to (something), a backwards glance at, an inclination or leaning towards. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6389.
He suld … Be circumspek and in his nek Ay haue ane ey all time and tyde 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 491.
Albeit there be some ounce weights of carnality and some squint look or eye in our neck to an idol, yet love in its own measure may be found

i. In other expressions.To lay one's lugs on one's neck, see Lug n. 2 c (8). To gif one nibill in the nek, see Nibill n. 1603 Philotus xiv.
Quhen he is gane giue him ane geck And tak another be the neck 1658 R. Moray Lett. 1/10 May.
Your taile is as tender as a Gordon's neck (who cannot endure to be hanged for hurting of it)

3. A neck (of mutton).1631 Buccleuch Household Bk. 29 Oct. 1664 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 521.

4. The neck or collar of a garment.Also appar., a neck-band. 1533–4 Treas. Acc. VI. 185.
To be ane set in nek to ane veluet slop … half ane quarter velvet Ib.
To lyne the nek of ane abirioun, half ane elne veluet 1550 Ib. IX. 453.
To be nekkis and ruffis to his graces sarkis a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. ii. 12.
Thair gounis ar … Barrit with veluous sleif nek and taillis 1580 Treas. Acc. MS. 18.
Lynnyng bukrem to the nekkis and craigis [of gowns] 1583 Edinb. Test. XII. 179 b.
Tua collaris & tua neckis 1600 Mill Mediæv. Plays 206.
Thre reid gouns with slewis and nekis 1600-1610 Melvill 139.
I being nixt under him caught him be the cott neak 1629 Lowther's Jrnl. 43.]
[Necke (= ) band 1646 Boyd Fam. P. No. 184 (27 June).
For nak and buistes to your suitt Ib.
Mair giwin for ane nak buitnitt to the clok

5. Attrib. Of or for the neck.Neck-button, ‘an ornamental button worn at the neck of a seventeenth century doublet or coat’ (C. R. Beard). 1513 Doug. xi. i. 27.
Hys gorget or hys nek armyng — 1628 Edinb. Test. LIV. 293 b.
xvj nek buttones for clokis 1648 Thanes of Cawdor 307.
Along neck buttoune with silver and gold head and ey — 1576 Edinb. Test. V. 28.
Ane nek chenȝe of gold 1579, 1617 Despauter (1617) 55.
Ponil, a necke chaine — 1531 Treas. Acc. V. 423.
For iii elnis holland claith to be twa nek claithis 1673 Leith Customs 5.
20 dozen seamens neckcloaths valued 40 d. [£2/0/0] — 1537 Treas. Acc. VI. 338.
Thre elnis of rence to be nek courcheis to the Kingis grace — 1496 Ib. I. 293.
A quhit hyde to be brestledderis and nekledderis to hamys — 1526 Ib. V. 298.
iiii ellis holland claith to be nek schetis — 1525 Household Bks. Jas. V 69.
iij vlne … pannj Britannee pro le nektowellis, price x s. 1526 Treas. Acc. V. 298.
Deliverit to Johne Murray, barbour, iii ellis holland claith to be nek towellis