Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JUNK, n. Also deriv. ¶junket (Rnf. 1884 J. Nicholson Willie Waugh 74). A thick, stumpy piece of any solid substance (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; I.Sc., Abd., Per., Fif., m.Lth., Arg., Uls. 1959); a shapeless block of quarry stone not suitable for dressing (Abd. 1959); a stout stocky person (Ork. 1959).m.Lth. 1795 G. Robertson Agric. m.Lth. App. 66:
This operation of converting moss into ashes . . . large square or oblong junks of moss for this purpose.Sc. 1834 M. Scott T. Cringle's Log i.:
A large knot in his cheek from a junk of tobacco therein stowed.Sc. 1843 J. W. Carlyle Letters (1883) I. 270:
[He] snatched up a large pound-cake, cut it into junks.Arg. 1896 N. Munro Lost Pibroch (1935) 114:
A stout junk with the back well set and the hose doubled a bit down.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 43:
Taks a junk o' reestid mutton an' maks a denner fit fur a king.Abd. 1949 W. Diack Granite Industry 61:
Some roadstone is still obtained from discarded “junks” in the vicinity of the quarry.Arg. 1982:
Duncan Macgougan wiz a strong junk o a man. He never weighed it. That's how ye got it - a junk o' mutton.

Hence junky, stout, sturdy, thickset (Ork., Fif., wm.Sc.¹ 1959).Arg. 1898 N. Munro John Splendid iv.:
All stout junky men of middle size.