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.
‡SPILK, v., n.
I. v. 1. To shell or husk peas (Mry., Abd. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. c.1920). Hence derivs. spilkard, n., used coll., split peas (Bnff. 1958), spilkin(g), vbl.n., a split pea (Mry., Abd. 1825 Jam.).Rs. 1792 Pitcalnie MSS.:
To 1 B[oll] Spilkins 1 B[oll] Groats . . . 1/6.Sc. 1872 N. & Q. (4th Ser.) IX. 103:
In many parts of Scotland split pease are on the same principle called spilkings.Abd. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 46:
Thir wis tay, trycle, wurset, sape, Ingans, an' spilket piz.
2. To beat sharply, to wallop (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 177).
II. n. A sharp blow (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 177).
[Cf. Mid.Eng. spelk, to bruise or crush beans, phs. a conflation of Pilk and Eng. dial. spelt, id.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Spilk v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/spilk>
