A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Luk, n. Also: luck(e, luke, lwkt. [Late ME. (15th c.) and e.m.E. luck(e, luk, MDu. and Flem. luc, MLG. lucke (also MDu. gelucke).]
1. Good fortune; advantage, success or prosperity resulting from this.c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 272.
God gewis the gud man luk, grace and plente of gudis a1568 Henr. Bann. MS. 78 b/57; 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 96.
Luk hes tane leif and wirschip hes no vdir wane a1500 Prestis of Peblis 588. 1535 Stewart 21519. Ib. 2265.
That neidfull war thai wantit thair nothing, At thair lyking, with greit larges and luke [: instruct] a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxi. 33.
Our faderis … had bayth honour men and meit … And we haue nother luk nor grace a1605 Montg. Flyt. 375 (T).
Ay the langer that thou live thy luk be the les Id. Misc. P. xii. 11.
Let them haif no luk in love 1595 Davidson Three Reformers 119.
Sic masters … they themselves are farre worse stakked And hes les luk baith but and ben Nor when there was gude husbandmen 1603 Philotus § 4.
Allace I lauch for lytill lucke 1608 Crim. Trials III. 367.
Yf it haid not pleasit God to haif givin hir that luke to anker in the Sound of Yla scho could not haif eschaipit saiff 1604-31 Craig v. 12.
Thy lawtie in loue, bout lucke, nought avayles 1633 Orkney Witch Trial in Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. V. 544.
The said David … was making mene that he had not luck to get fisch that yeirproverbs a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1078.
Litle luk for the hyre women to get quhair the gudewife liks the ladill Ib. No. 1509; Ib. No. 1504, 1519, 1524.
There cam never luk of lang wowing a1663 Pappity Stampoy 35.
Lucke and bone voyage
2. The fortune (good or bad) falling to one by chance or allotted to one by fate (also, by God); also, an instance of this.(1) 1513 Doug. ix. v. 131.
Lat fortoun send ws gude luk, gif scho lest, Or mysaventour Ib. x. vi. 51. c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 551.
Gude luk [: muk] 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 124. a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxvi. 38.
It's my ill luk that troublis thé ? 1572 Sat. P. xxxvi. 56.
Quhose luk wes gud thay came not in Lochlevin c1590 Fowler I. 33/170.
Achilles … in his lwiff had all his lwkt evin full of doole and dout a1605 Montg. Son. xxxvi. 6.
I lyk my lote and ȝit my luk is ill 1596 Dalr. I. 15/23.
[In Clydesdale] sum of thame hes sik luk in fishing that thay take nocht sa mony salmon as … vses to be takne … in the north partes Ib. 79/5.
Quhairfra began the taken of gud luk of a kingdom to follow Ib. 273/26.
In hope of bettir luck a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 200.
Ane peit and nyne horse shoone for a breakfast and your luk be good 1602 Conv. Burghs II. 143.
Gif … the schip … be cast away throw ony ewill luk or mischance 1609 Crim. Trials III. 23.
Bot I hope that my lordis diligence, wisdome, and gud luk, sall owertak thame 1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 77.
Sho refusand to geve yow any flesh and saying sho wad tak hir to God's luck ye depairted angrie a1658 Durham Commandments 112/3.
That it boadeth good luck for folks to haue drink spilt on them 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 15.
We ha' nae hewrs, that's our geud luck(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 573.
Sum of thame said. it was ane schrewit sing Of ane gude luck sic ane Quene hame to bring 1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 77.
Giff sho wald giff yow ane piece flesh ye wald giff her ane guid sheip luck as ye haid given to sundreis in the ile
b. An omen.Also e.m.E. 1548, 1570.1533 A. Home in Bell. Livy II. 233/33.
The quhilk voyce being hard abroad, … the senat did think the samyn to be the luck and presage of sume thing to come
3. Chance regarded as the cause or bestower of good or bad fortune.a1658 Durham Commandments 106.
The disposal of things, which is due to God, is denyed to Him and attributed to chance, luck, fortune and such like Ib. 110.
b. Upon luck's head, on the chance of winning or having a successful outcome, on chance, at haphazard.Also in the mod. dial. of Orkney and Shetland.1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 338.
I would believe in the dark upon luck's head, and take my hazard of Christ's goodwill Ib. 353.
We may sing upon luck's-head beforehand, even in our winter-storm, in the expectation of a summer sun Ib. (1765) No. 28 (Jam.).
Therefore upon luck's head (as we use to say) take your fill of His love
