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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Louk, Lowk, v. Also: lowke, luk. P.t. lowkyt, -ed. P.p. lowkit, -yt, lukkit, lucked, luicked and lukkin, lokkin. [ME. louke(n, early luke(n, OE. lúcan, to close, shut, lock, p.t. léac pl. lucon, p.p. locen. Latterly (after the 15th c.) chiefly or only Sc.ME. had strong forms of the p.t. (13–14th c.) and of the p.p. luken (13–14th c.) and loken (which survived into the 16th c.). as well as the weak forms, p.t. louked, luked (13–14th c.) and p.p. (? chiefly north.) lowked, -id, lowkkide (14–15th c.).(Cf. also Lukkin v.).]

1. tr. To close. Chiefly, ceremonially to close the eyes of a dead person. Also, of a flower, to close its leaves (or ? petals).(1) 1513 Doug. ix. viii. 68.
Nor I, thy moder, layd not thy corps on beir, Nor with my handis lowkyt thyne eyn so cleir 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9245.
With ȝour father to speik … twa wordis or thre, Furth of this warld or he depart and die … sine ȝe to lowk his ene 1563 St. A. Kirk S. I. 166.
Sche wes present in tym of deces of ane barne … and lowked the barnis eyn and wynd hym 1611 Reg. Panmure I. xxxvi. 1604-31 Craig v. 8.
Then who shall bee seene To louk thy dead eine? And intombe thee … As custome requyres?(2) a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xv. 8.
Lyk as the dum Solsequium … louks his leavis throu langour of the nicht

2. intr. a. To close, draw together, form a close mass, bunch. = Lukkin v. a. b. Of verses: To be linked together, to link up, cohere. Cf. Lukkin v. b.a. 1513 Doug. v. x. 85.
Thai lowke togiddir and countyrfatis a chays In maner of bargane Ib. vi. vii. 43.
A myr tre wod about thame lowkyt ȝarn Ib. viii. Prol. 29.
Lufferis langis only to lok in thar lace Thir ladeis lufly and louk but let or releifis Ib. xi. i. 29.
The chiftanys all abowt hym lowkyt war a1585 Polwart Flyt. 539 (H).
Athort [h]is neatie nowe Ilk lous lyes lucked lyk a lardge lint bowb. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 85.
Ȝour meitter mismaid hes louslie lukkit [: plukkit, gukkit, instructit; H. luicked]

3. tr. To enclose, surround, entrap, in, within or with something.Found only in p.p. Lukkin in clay (also ME. loken), buried.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii. 10.
To se Candas … That had him lukkin in luffis lace c1460 Regim. Princ. 172.
Of thi detturis maist force ar lukkin in clay 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 187.
Remanand thus within the tre all lokkin [: spokin, brokin, etc.](b) 1513 Doug. vi. ii. 124.
Amyd a rank tre lurkis a goldin bewch … That standis lowkit abowt and obumbrate With dirk schaddowis Ib. xi. xiii. 170.
The silly dow … Quham … he [a hawk] clippis at the last And lowkyt in his punsys sarris fast