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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FACK, n. Also fac, fak. Gen.Sc. forms and usages of Eng. fact. See P.L.D. § 63.2.

Sc. forms:Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 8:
Even the fack that he wis noo the ainer o a braw big Steeler - a spikken boolie - didna gee him up. Ags. 1985 Raymond Vettese in Joy Hendry Chapman 40 17:
Tax
is owre heich yet, tho' the average wage
accordin til the facs
gien us by the Chancellor (wha shud ken)
is better noo nor ever
it wis aneath yon lest bunch o gowksFif. 1985 Tom Hubbard in Joy Hendry Chapman 40 30:
O conscious an unconscious sel,
O heichs an deeps, o facks an dreams,
Articulatit bi a leid
Whase words maun intimately growe.

Sc. usages:

1. Make, shape, form.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
A bonny fak a letter.

2. Used adv. (1) = indeed, really, truly; (2) in phr. (as) fac(k) as . . ., as sure(ly), certain(ly) as . . . (Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 199; Mry., Abd., Ags., Kcb. 1952).(1) Sc. 1843 N. Macleod Crack aboot Kirk I. 4:
Did they fac'?Lnk. 1877 W. McHutchison Poems 28:
Ye'll find it fac' a tasty bite A buttered Bawbee Scone.Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums i.:
Na! fack, na! Ye maun “Gae fa' upon anither plan.”(2) Sc. 1868 G. Webster Strathbrachan II. v.:
There's nae living wi' a soul that's in the house, as fack's ye're there.Kcb. 1897 Crockett Lads' Love xv.:
Nance has never lookit twice at a sowl since ye gaed ower the hill. This is fack as daith, and dooble daith.Ags. 1898 J. Inglis Oor Ain Folk 30:
As fac's am leevin', he wad speir the vera guts oot o' a wheel-barrow.Uls. 1910 C. C. Russell Peop. & Lang. Uls. 30:
He is the man who, “as shair as deeth (or “as fac' as deeth”), will tak' ye in, an' insist on giein' ye a half-yin, gin he sees ye in the fair.”Mry. 1927 E. B. Levack Lossiemouth 42:
An' fack's death, an' A hadna' come oot there an' then they wud 'a' haen me awa' tae Forres.