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 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SWACKEN, v. [′swɑkən]

1. tr. and intr. To make or become soft and pliant, to loosen, supple (Abd., Kcd. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 187; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; I. and n.Sc. 1972). Also fig. Also ppl.adj. swackenin. Ags. 1815 G. Beattie John o' Arnha' (1883) 172:
Wi' that her joints began to swacken, Awa' she scour'd like ony maukin.Abd. 1861 J. Davidson Poems 106:
She can cure colds and coughs; she can swacken stiff joints.Abd. 1928 N. Shepherd Quarry Wood xii.:
Certainly it did not serve to swacken the patient's temper.Abd. 1952 Huntly Express (21 Nov.):
He has got sufficient sap now if he has not got the frost tae swacken't.Cai. 1992 James Miller A Fine White Stoor 96:
'We're ready for a tune now,' shouted Jonah. 'Right ye are,' said Alistair the teacher and the player of the organ. 'We'll soon swacken your ankles.' Abd. 1995 Sheena Blackhall Lament for the Raj 25:
The burns in Mey will sweesh an swey
(Peat watter's sweet, mo gradh,
Fur lowpin troot an swackenin shoot)
The Braes o Mar, gu bradh! Abd. 2000 Sheena Blackhall The Singing Bird 58:
The tenant's swackened the latch
Wi a jeelip o Grassic Gibbon,
A swatch o Scott,
A drappie Stevenson
An lick an spit o
Ogston, Murray and Mackie
Fur gweed measur.

2. By extension: to soften by beating, to thrash, phs. influenced by Swack, v.¹Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 187:
He swackent's back weel till 'im.