Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DECK, Dek(k), Daek, n.³ Sh. variants of Dyke, a wall; also applied to “peats built like a wall” (Sh. 1913–14 J. M. Hutcheson W.-L.). Hence daek-end (Ib.).Sh. c.1733 Shet. Acts 6 in P.S.A.S. (1892) 197:
That they pay forty shillings Scots for each winter slap found in their decks after the first of May.Sh. 1836 Gentleman's Mag. II. 589:
Aboot twa bocht lent abùn da krù dekk o' Oxigill.Sh. 1919 T. Manson Humours Peat Comm. II. 236:
What's dis daek here fur? Wha is wantin' dis daek here?Sh. 1930 A.N.O.F. in Shet. Almanac 191:
He stumbled ta da faely dek Wi' head an' figer bent.Sh. 1948 New Shetlander (Jan.–Feb.) 6:
Yowes kruggin' closs i' da lee o' a daek-end, Creepin' frae a chill 'at bites ta da bon'.

Phr.: in-a-daeks, within the hill-dyke, into the arable ground round the farmhouse, of cattle taken from the hill-pasture (Sh. 1975). Cf. out-a-decks s.v. Out.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 58:
Dat pits hit i' my mind at doo'll dae ta tak wir quaiks in-a-daeks frae da day an' sae trow.