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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SICLIKE, adj., n., adv. Also si(c)k-, seek-(Ork.), -lyk(e), -lek, -lik, and erron. -likes in reduced form s'likes. [sɪk′ləik, rarely ′sɪk-]

I. adj. 1. Similar, of the same kind, such (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 265; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein). Gen.Sc. For sic-a-like, sic and siclike, see Sic, IV. 2., 5. Followed by as when the comparison is expressed.Sc. 1730 Records Conv. Burghs (B.R.S.) 516:
Sicklyke execution shall pass against the said burghs.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 182:
To kaim his head and sicklike things as these.Ayr. 1786 Burns Twa Dogs 64:
Sauce, ragouts, an' sic like trashtrie.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xxx.:
I whiles dinna think it has been ever weel wi' my mother and me since we kept sic-like company.Abd. 1844 W. Thom Rhymes 43:
Siclike the nicht, siclike the hour, Siclike the wae they ken.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond Bawbee Bowden (1922) 128:
I windered whether Sandy cud hae dune onything to meet a sic-like fate.Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. 123:
It's jist aboot twenty year ago sin' we had the awfu' winter. It begood wi' a storm siclike's this.Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 327:
Tae sheut wild deuks or tammynorries an' ither seeklike fools.Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fablesfrae French 21:
There's monie men siclike, an' that we ken, Wha get a haud o' wark o' ither men.Ags. 1921 A. S. Neill Carroty Broon xviii.:
A teapot or spoons or a silver cream-jug or something s' likes.Bnff. 1957 Banffshire Jnl. (15 Jan.):
His kwite wis raggit, patched an' worn, His breeks were jist sic-like.

2. In regard to health, condition, quality, etc., much of a muchness, much about the same, often implying so-so, middling, indifferent (Sh., ne.Sc., Ags., Slg., Peb., Bwk., Ayr., Kcb., Dmf. 1970).Ags. 1959:
Fu are ye, Ellen? Oh, jist siclike.

II. pron. Such kind of thing(s) or person(s). Gen.Sc. Used as n. in Galt quot.Sc. 1752 Session Papers, Forbes v. Grant (1 June) 31:
Questions as to the Place of his Birth, his Employment and sicklike.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 118:
That or sick like's the maist that she can do.Ayr. 1788 Burns Letters (Ferguson) No. 218:
The old Scots phrase — “To gie sic-like as we get.”Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel vii.:
Yon divine has another airt from powerful Master Rollock, and Mess David Black, of North Leith, and sic-like.Ayr. 1822 Galt Entail lv.:
I can tell you o' naething but the sic like about him.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb iii.:
Among a horde of old shoes, dilapidated brooms and “siclike”.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 75:
I took him wi's juist to explain — aboot the bats an' wickets an' sic like.Sh. 1915 Old-Lore Misc. VIII. i. 61:
Knockin ower stöills, daffiks, creepies an' sik-lik.Abd.¹ 1930:
The twa o' them war niver sinnrie — like draws to siclike.

III. adv. †1. Introducing a subsequent detail in an enumeration: likewise, item.Gsw. 1700 Charters City Gsw. (1906) 282:
And sicklyke, the said provost, baillies and council of the burgh of Dumbartoun and deacons of crafts, . . . .Sc. 1715 Session Papers, Petition J. Dalrymple (7 Feb. 1738) 5:
And Siklike, All and Haill the Tiend-Sheaves great and small, Parsonage and Vicarage, of the haill Lands.Edb. 1759 Edb. Chronicle (17 May):
And siclike an Inclosure of about two acres of ground, lying to the east of said Mansion house.

2. In the same way, similarly, in like manner (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh., ne., em.Sc.(a), wm.Sc., Kcb. 1970). Siclikes below represents siclike as, just as, as for instance.Fif. 1703 L. Macbean Kirkcaldy Burgh Rec. (1908) 221:
To hold their several offices sicklyke and in the same mainer as they did.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 215:
Sicklike some weary wight will fill His kyte wi' Drogs frae doctor's Bill.Abd. 1851 Apollodora North. Tales ii. 11:
There's sour milk and stinking whey, An' a' ither thing sic like.Sc. 1888 Brit. Workman (May):
An' siclyke it is wi' the Heavenly Word.Abd. 1909 J. Tennant Jeannie Jaffray 202:
They micht aye invite aul' servan's o' the kirk like oorsel's to dinner alang wi' ithers, sic-likes at the visitation an' communion times.ne.Sc. 1961 People's Jnl. (2 Sept.) 7:
Sic likes masel', Mrs Ross is a North Country wumman.