Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Pauk-,) Pawky, Pakie, a. [f. Pauk n. Also in mod. Sc. dial., chiefly in senses derived f. a below and in mod. north. Eng. dial. chiefly in senses related to b below.] a. Crafty, wily. b. Excessively scrupulous, arrogantly stubborn. — ?a1640 Copie of a Baron's Court (1821) 30.
That John Davison he is a pakie knave, He doth molest us more than all the lave 1676 Row in Blair Autob. 407.
He carrying like a pawky prelate, refused the title of lord 1682 Lauder's Observes App. iv. 306.
A pakie loun answered that [the Test] could not be good, since Lyon Rampant, King of Tykes, nor none of his royal kine wold not so much as lay ther lips to it 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose 45.
They studied not the smooth and pawky prudence that is now so much applauded