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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wilk(e, Vylk, n. [ME and e.m.E. welke, wilque (c1170 and v.r.), wylk(e (1312-13), whelke (15th c.), wilke (1565), whilk (1668), OE wioloc, weoloc, WFlem. willok.] A whelk, periwinkle or similar mollusc. Cf. SND Wulk n. and Buckie n.¹ b. In proverb. or allusive use: The type of something of little value, trivial or amoral. c. attrib. Shaped like a whelk. 1534–5 Wigtown B. Ct. 297b.
The custovme fres fys, vylkis, mvssillis 1549 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 588.
Gadderaris of wilkis, lempettis and bait … upoun the sey sandis 1566 Inverness Rec. I 138.
That hyr modyr … leiffit on wilkis c1575 Balfour Pract. 626.
To gather wilkis, cockles, limpettis, muscles 1596 Dalr. I 41/25.
Ostiris, buckies, and vthiris schal fishe, wilkes, and vthiris fishes amang the craigis and stanes a1646 Wedderburn Voc. (1709) 11.
Cochlea, a wilkb. a1500 K. Hart 687.
I compt nocht all ȝour werkis wirth ane wilk c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 201/24.
At ȝour hie croce quhar gold and silk Sould be, thair is bot crudis and milk; And at ȝour trone bot cokill and wilk 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4419 (B).
Thir bony anis that ar cled in silk Thay ar als wantoun as ane wilk a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS 1347.
Ther is a heat in our kitching, the cook is wirried on a wilkc. c1590 Fowler II 192/7.
Wilke c1590 Fowler II 193/8.
At the next sound of Tritons wilk trumpet 1684 Oliphants 287.
12 dusson of wilke buttones