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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

THANK, n.¹, v. Also thenk (Edb. 1884 R. F. Hardy Jock Halliday ii.; Per., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; sm.Sc. 1933 R. W. Mackenna Rowan Tree 35; Lnk. 1951 G. Rae Howe o' Braefoot 5); tank (Sh., Ork.), See T, letter, 9. Sc. forms and usages. The form thenk is freq. associated with affected pseudo-Eng. speech. Derivs. thankfu, tankfil (Sh. 1897 Shetland News (28 Aug.), thenkfu (Lnk. 1919 G. Rae Clyde and Tweed 83), thankful, hence thenkfu'ness (Lnk. 1951 G. Rae Howe o' Braefoot 84), thenkless (sm.Sc. 1923 R. W. Mackenna Bracken and Thistledown 16); thankrife, full of thanks, grateful (Fif., Ayr., sm.Sc. 1972). See -Rife; thenksgiving (Lnk. 1951 G. Rae Howe o' Braefoot 146); thankwordy, thankworthy, deserving of thanks (Abd. 1777 R. Forbes Ulysses 34). [θɑŋk; wm.Sc. + θɛŋk]

I. n. 1. In phrs., the sing. form surviving much later than in Eng.: (1) (aa) one's or the thank, used in reproach or displeasure: the thanks for or recognition of a service accorded, which the speaker feels to be inadequate (Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 20; Ork., ne.Sc., Kcb. 1972); (2) in one's thank, to one's advantage, so as to deserve one's gratitude. Also in n. Eng. and Ir. dial.; (3) out one's thank, out of one's debt, no longer obliged to; (4) thanks be, an exclamation of relief (Sh., Cai., Ags. 1972); (5) to give thanks, to say grace after (and later also before) a meal. Gen.Sc., obsol.; (6) to ser one's thank, to deserve one's thanks, to be thankful for.(1) Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail xcviii.:
A' the thank I'm to get for my pains is a no possible!Bnff. 1862 R. Sim Leg. Strathisla 53:
Little's my thank frae you, wi' that fusionless burdmou'd way o' yours.Abd. 1917 C. Murray Sough o' War 43:
I saw you throu', an' this is a' my thank.(2) Dmf. 1835 Carlyle Letters (Norton) II. 335:
It is a sore struggle, and poor wages; with little outlook of its mending, in our thank.Gsw. 1863 J. Young Ingle Nook 58:
Dootless, some ane at the Bank Will pay the siller i' yer thank.(3) Lnk. 1824 Sc. Peasants v.:
In a fortnight they may do as they like; we shall be out their thank.(4) Edb. 1900 E. H. Strain Elmslie's Drag-net 140:
Thanks be! he's no in his bed yet.(5) Sc. 1808 Jam., s.v. Grace-drink:
The drink taken by a company, after the giving of thanks at the end of a meal. —(6) Gsw. 1865 J. Young Homely Pictures 128:
Ye that hae umbrellas aye laid bye To ser yer thank.

2. In Combs.: (1) thankscock, see quot.; (2) thanksgiving, in the Presbyterian churches: the service succeeding the Communion in which special thanks are returned to God. Gen. in phrs. thanksgiving service, service of thanksgiving.(1) Fif. 1924 Rymour Club Misc. III. iii. 131:
Thanks-cock de'ed i' the crib — said to the polite but mean person who gives profuse thanks for work done, when cash was expected.(2) Fif. 1713 D. Beveridge Culross (1885) II. 76:
Mr Cuthbert preached the action sermon on Rom. iii. 25, and Mr Mair the thanksgiving afternoon sermon.Sc. 1885 A. Edgar Church Life 135:
The Monday's service of thanksgiving after the communion.Lnk. 1960 Stat. Acc.² 152:
The “Thanksgiving” service, formerly held on the evening of the Monday following Communion, is now held on the evening of Communion Sunday.

II. v. 1. As in Eng. Phrs.: (1) be thankit, short for Guid (God) be thankit, as an expression of thanks or relief; also the grace said after a meal; (2) Devil thank —, ironically = “confound —!”; (3) for thank ye, for nothing (but thanks) (Bnff., Abd., Ayr., Dmf. 1972).(1) Ayr. 1786 Burns To a Haggis iv.:
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, ‘Bethanket!' hums.Gsw. 1865 J. Young Homely Pictures 159:
Be thankit I'm meanwhile Safe frae thy stoorie, mad turmoil.Sc. 1887 Stevenson Underwoods 96:
Bethankit! what a bonny creed!(2) Kcb. 1901 R. Trotter Gall. Gossip 52:
Deevil thank him for being civil.(3) Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 137:
That's a machine an' harness 'at hisna been pitten there for thank ye, aw'm tellin, ye.

†2. To suffice.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 95:
I've eaten owre muckle o' yon fat haggis. I'll gar the bouk o' a black pea o' either sybo or leek, thank me for the feck o' twa days.