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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LACK, adj., v., n. Also †lake, †laik (Mry., Abd. 1925). [lɑk, †lek]

†I. adj. Deficient in some quality, lacking in substance, position, breeding, etc., of poor quality. With o and freq. in ballads.Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 38:
Should her paunch for want, grow boss, Or lake o' cheer.Sc. 1828 Brown Adam in Child Ballads II. 376:
Ye are too lack o luve, ladye, And that's a hatefu thing.Sc. 1828 Willie o Douglas Dale Ib. 408:
He thought his father lack to sair, And his mother of low degree.Ork. c.1836 Old-Lore Misc. I. vii. 264:
The Queen wears on her legs sae lack, Fine silk hosen — they're fu' black.

†II. v. 1. To be lacking, or wanting, to be needed or required. Obs. in Eng. Rare.Dmf. 1822 A. Cunningham Tales (1874) 229:
The bridegroom has not an hour to lose; the bridal cups will barely be dry before they're lacked for his lykewake.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 83:
Nor did there laik delicious liquor.

2. To disparage, depreciate, slight (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 99). Obs. exc. dial. in Eng.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 130:
He that lacks my Mare, would buy my Mare.Abd. 1746 W. Forbes Dominie Depos'd (1765) 38:
Sadly me she sham'd and lacked.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 82:
Well look ye baith! I dinna mean to lack The ane, whan I but o' the ither spak.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 136:
Derf be his fa' wha Scotland laiks.Rxb. 1848 R. Davidson Leaves 156:
To lack them I am never mintin; And to roose them wad be sklentin. In phr. with dat. inf. to lack, to blame. Obs. in Eng. but revived by Scott under the misapprehension that the phrase applied to meaning 1. of the v. and hence = wanting, in default.Sc. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles ii. xxvii.:
If Bruce shall e'er find friends again . . . Old Torquil will not be to lack With twice a thousand at his back.Sc. 1828 Scott F. M. Perth xiii.:
Your house has been seldom to lack when the crown of Scotland desired . . . wise counsel.

III. n. 1. As in Eng., lack, want, deficiency.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 83:
Crosses like thae, or lake o' warld's gear.Ayr. 1788 Burns O Tibbie Chorus:
For laik o' gear ye lightly me.

†2. Disgrace, despite, reproach; the act of disparaging (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 99). Often coupled with shame. Phr. to think lack, to think shame.n.Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis:
Shame and Lak, is an usual phrase in the North of Scotland.Sc. c.1800 Laird o Drum in Child Ballads IV. 325:
Ye'v wedded a mean woman, The lack o a' our kin.Kcd. 1819 J. Burness Plays 311:
Oh, fie! black burning shame, and lack!Abd. 1828 P. Buchan Ballads I. 164:
O, I will do for my love's sake What other ladies wou'd think lack.