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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ruk, n. Also: rwk, ruck(e; ruke, rui(c)k, rwik; rouk, rowk(e, rowik; rook. [ME and e.m.E. ruk(e (Ancr. R.), roke (Destr. Troy), rooke (Coverdale), ruck(e (1570), ruk (1581), rowke (Cotgrave), appar. f. as Norw. ruka, ON *hruka, cogn. with hraukr and OE hréac a rick.]

1. A rick or stack of corn, hay, etc.(1) 1516 Fife Sheriff Ct. 27.
Preuit that Thomas Flemyng … spoilȝeit … certane aitis extending to iij rukkis 1530 Reg. Soltre 98.
Payand thairfor … anis ilk yheir four rukkes off gud and sufficient hay ilk ruk contenand sex faddomis about with the hycht according thairto 1588 Exch. R. XXI 412.
For wynning and putting of the samyn [hay] in tramp ruckis 1627 Brechin Test. IV 293.
Of beir tua litill ruckis 1629 Dumfries Test. Ia 183b.
Rucke 1659 A. Hay Diary 116.
My hey made readie to put in a ruck 1676 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 23 May.
Six bolls of corn sowing, one furlett of beer sowing in ane ruck(b) 1546 Laing Chart. 135.
Onto the tyme the said medow be mawyn and put into rouk(c) 1665 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 411.
To leave the hay at their way-going, win, and standing in the rook etc.(2) 1529 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 7.
iiii rukkis hay in Pentland price of the ruk xxvi s. 1574 Edinb. Test. III 42.
Tua rukkis of beir standane in the ȝard estimat to ten bollis 1584 St. A. Test. II 47b.
Twa rwkis of owtfeild aittis 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 235.
The Devill passing before thame lyke ane ruk of hay 1598 Brechin Test. I 172b.
Ane littill hand ruk of infeild eattis ?c1600 Sc. Hist. Rev. XIX 203.
The uast medow suld pay ȝeirlie v rukkis of hay 1642–75 Nicolson Diurnals passim.
Ane ruk of beir wes castin 1676 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 219.
Haveing ane ruk of win hay upon the watirsyd 1687 Melrose Reg. Rec. III 107.
Rucks(b) 1589 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis fol. 42a (17 April).
Ane ruke of aittis 1597 Crail B. Ct. MS 31 Oct.
In the barneyaird xiiij rwikis of pis 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 366.
[1] ruke [hay] 1621 Brechin Test. IV 32.
Ane ruick of auld beir 1627 Ib. 293.
Ruickis 1639 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 497.
Rukes of aittes 1640 Brechin Test. V 308.
Two huittis or ruikis of bear quhilk he estimatis to tuentie bollis bear 1643 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 17.
Ruiks(c) 1530 Reg. Soltre 98.
Agreit … till ressaue yheirlie wtheris four roukis of … haye 1557 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 149.
The spoulȝeatioun … of ane rowk of aittis continand tuenty bollis of aittis with the fodder 1560 Gunn Peebles Colleg. Ch. 175. 1566 Reg. Privy S. V ii 90/1.
Certane rowkis of beir in the manis of Dunrobene and barneyaird thairof 1574 Edinb. Test. II 42.
Ane rouk of peis & beins 1578 Ib. VI 126.
Four roukis of mukkitlaid aittis 1589 St. A. Test. II 124.
Ane rowke of peis, … tua letill rowkis of aitis 1605 Dunblane Test. III 90b.
Ane lytill rouk of blak corne 1700 Corshill Baron Ct. 197.
Robert Barnes … persued Robert Dickie … for three rowkes of hay taken out of his yeard

2. A stack or pile of fuel.The only sense in ME and in e.m.E. till 1570. 1527 Wigtown B. Ct. fol. 204b.
Afens one tua ruckis of pettis 1561 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 15a.
All vnfre folks … nocht havand cailȝards nor peitt rowiks or ony hous to ramvif awaye 1621 Acts IV 628/2.
That … nane … found build or keip any stakis or rukkes of haither broome quhynnes or vther fewall within anye of the closses [etc.] … nor within thair housis