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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rok, n.² Also: roke, roik, royk; rolk, roulk; rowk, rouk; roque; rock(e. Pl. also rox. [ME and e.m.E. rokk(e (14th c.), OF roke, roque, rocque (OED). See also Roche n.]

1. A rocky eminence; a cliff; a crag; a reef.Also, an insulated sea rock.(1) c1420 Wynt. i 605.
At hys prayere … The craggys and the rockys [E. roches] all Crape to-gyddyre in ane walle 1513 Doug. i iv 20 (Ruddim.).
Undir the hingand rokkis was alsua Ane coif, and tharin fresche wattir spryngand 1567 G. Ball. 175.
Ane cursit fox lay hid in rox 1572 Sat. P. xxxii 100.
Quhairfra all vice … springis … As dois the watter out of the rok or montane 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 123.
And the schipp … come vpoun ane rok and brak in pecis 1580 Hume Promine 111.
Birdis … sang With sic ane reird quhill all the rokkis rang a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 79 (W).
I sawe ane ryuer rin Out over ane craig and rock of stane Id. Misc. P. xlviii 156.
On steirbuird syd the roks lay off the land 1596 Dalr. I 28/11.
A rouch rock or craig … [with] a dangerous hill towarde the north, ioyned thairwith and sticking thairto c1639 Sc. Ant. III 132.
Among the rocks [of Thule] grows the delectable lambre called succinum 1683 Garden in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 135.
The sea rocks are very steep and high c1650-1700 Descr. Zetland 50.
This harbour is clean enough, having no rocks nor shelves, but one very small & high rock good for fixing of a land-rope(b) 1513 Doug. Comm. i iii 29.
Thar lyis … amyd the sey a hirst or ryg of craggy rolkis Id. Æn. v iv 13.
For hys barge Of the hyd rolkis blynd sum deill afferyt Ib. 38.
The auld Meneyt … Sat on the dry rolk, and hym self gan dycht Ib. vi v 131.
As that I grippit … the scharp rolkis toppys at the schoyr 1533 Boece 534b.
His navyn … war … apoun rolkis and sand beddis brokin 1562-3 Winȝet I 3/9.
Betuix maist daingerus sanddy beddis on the rycht hand and terrible rolkis presenting deth alrady on the left(c) 1513 Doug. i viii 77.
The flude … throw the perrellus rowkis gan ws dryve 1533 Boece 55.(d) 1549 Lamb Resonyng 55/20.
Of the Ingland kyngis superioritie in Scotland, ȝour buik … makis mair diligence … to deduce that pretendit superiorite fra the first growing of the auld roulkis in this greit ile than it dois pruif the samyn(e) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1409.
The roikis with rerd began to ryue(f) 1649 Lanark B. Rec. 139.
They find that thair is a firme roke throw the water … that ane brig of stone of foure bowis may be built(2) c1521 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. cvii.
To the wyndy and richt vnplesand castell and royk of Edinburgh 1524 St. P. Henry VIII IV 283.
The roik of Millane, Pavy, and utheris strenthis 1574–5 Carrick Baillie Ct. 28 Jan.
The blak roik of Ardstinchear(3) 1531 Bell. Boece I 149.
Beyond us ar na pepil nor refuge, bot only desert roukis, and streme of sees c1590 J. Stewart 62/184.
Or lyk ane rock firm situat in the sie Sustening stres of stormie stouris hie ?a1650 Highland P. II 277.
Ane roke within the sea … called Berissay, a fort invincible … a place of retreat … the rock of Berrissay

b. A large fragment of stone or rock. Also attrib. in rockwork. 1513 Doug. xii ix 76.
Enee … bet hym doun … With a gret roik or quhirrand stane ourrauchtattrib. 1648 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 87.
Ane stane dyk of rockwork

c. transf. The inhabitants of a ‘rock’, collectively. 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 2803.
Than send the rok till Alexander message Requirand him [etc.]

d. fig. or in fig. context. Without article: Hard stone. c1590 Fowler I 181/5.
O harte, no harte bot rok and marble dure

2. fig. or in fig. context. a. Chiefly in religious contexts, to exemplify stability or permanence. b. As the type of mortal danger.a. 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 160.
Thaye did big firmelye on that sure roke and fundament, that Jesu Christ, our Salveour, is the Sone of God Id. Breif Tract. (ed.) 115/31.
Lik as our saluiour vas nocht ane roik [etc.] … in deid, bot be ane … similitude 1571 Sempill Sat. P. xxviii 102.
Swa of this lyfe the Lord was miscontent, Seand my faith not foundit on ane roik 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 139/29.
I vat nocht in quhat scripture ye haif fund that the rok is callit the confessione of the fayth of S. Petir 1602 Colville Paraenese Ep. 60.
Thou art a roque, and vpon this roque I sall beild my church ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 44.
These fyve articles … proved a rocke of offence to the presbyteriansb. 1562-3 Winȝet I 4/24.
To hald … vs … fra the rolkis of errour, heresie [etc.] c1590 Fowler I 184/13.