Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

EIK, n.¹ Also †eak; eek, yeik. [ik, jik]

1. The natural grease which is secreted into the wool of a sheep (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 193, eak; Rxb. 1951). Also applied to human perspiration (Rxb. 1825 Jam.²; 1923 Watson W.-B., (y)eik).Dmf. 1812 W. Singer Agric. Dmf. 425:
The coarse wool grown on the neighbouring flocks of short sheep, is first scoured in vats with urine and warm water, which by the aid of the yolk, or eik, as the people call it, purge it of extraneous matter.Rxb. 1825 Jam.²:
A sort of unctuous perspiration that oozes through the pores of the skin of sheep in warm weather; often called sheep-eik.Dmf. 1894 J. Shaw in Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 159:
An eek from his head has stained the pillow.

Hence adj. eiky, having a greasy fleece, “an eiky sheep” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Rxb.⁵ 1943), and adj. comb. eiky-tailed, of sheep: “having a tail discoloured by urine” (Watson).

2. A liniment used for greasing sheep (s.Sc. 1808 Jam.).