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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1690
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Lurk, v. Also: lurke, lurck, lurc-, lork. [ME. lurke(n (Havelok), appar. orig. f. lūr- Lour v. with frequentative -k.]
1. To lurk; to remain or be in hiding or ambush; to remain furtively in or about a place.See Le n. 1 and Lour v. c for some further examples.1375 Barb. viii. 474.
Thair fais … had gret voundir, quhen thai saw Thaim that war ere lurkand full law Come apon thame so hardely 1375 Ib. x. 627.
Out our thair hedis flaw the stane And thai sat still, lurkande ilkane 1375 Ib. vii. 72. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxiii. 49.
In tha[t] low lurkit that tyme A serpent fel c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2442. c1420 Wynt. i. 205.
Kayin … That lurkand lay in tyll a buske c1420 Ib. vi, 1732.
Nere lurkand by this traytoure wes And thare murthrysyde he the king a1500 Henr. Fab. 986.
Cum furth, Lowrie, lurkand vnder thy hude a1500 Ib. 1631.
[The bat] Quhilk lurkis still als lang as licht of day is 1513 Doug. xi. xiv. 99.
Lurkand at wayt 1513 Ib. ii. ii. 143, x. 14, iii. vi. 131, viii. 59, ix. 90, viii. Prol. 12, etc. 1533 Boece xiv. viii. 555 b.
Wemen haistelie fled fra all partis, lurking and hiding tham in woddis, montanis or clewchis a1540 Freiris Berw. 214.
Than vndir it scho gart him creip in hy And bad him lurk thair verry quyetly 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1555. 1558-66 Knox I. 74.
Lurkand in holes lyke traytour toddes 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1765, 2024. 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 86.
Lurkand and watchand quhill he maye se ane other tym 1581 Burne Disput. 131.
As is manifest … of the covis in the quhilkis thay sumtyme did lurk 1596 Dalr. I. 20/27. 1596 Ib. II. 3/32.
Fisches lurking amang the stanes 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 82.
A number lurcked in Coircharby forrest, sallying out upon the adjacent nighbourhood
b. To do so out of slackness, cowardice or sloth; to skulk.To lurk under the laik, see Lake n.3 ().1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 122.
Quhat bern be thou in bed … Lurkand lyke a longeour? 1533 Boece ii. v. 67.
We se the detestabill tratouris … like men discumfist declynyng the ire of inemyis dolflie lurk in thir placis a1538 Abell 78 b.
Our capitenis of the bordur at lurkis quhen the Turkis of Ingland hereis the pure bodeis 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 8944.
Lodwik ly not, ȝe lurk ouir lang for lufe a1585 Arbuthnot Maitland Quarto MS xxxv. 152. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 64/17.
Bot samekle mair ar thai to be … ferit, the mair quietlie thai lurk wnder the schadowis of Godis law 1567 Satirical Poems vii. 184.
And sould the nobill barronis of this land In hoilis lurk and this mischeif behauld? 1617 Acts IV. 536/2.
Aganis … vagaboundis solitarie and ydlemen and wemen without calling or trede lurking in ailhousis 1653 Humble Acknowledgment Sins Ministery 88.
Too much desiring to lurk upon by ends, when called to give a testimony
c. To shrink, cower, cringe.a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1080.
Sal neuer freik on fold, … Gar me lurk for ane luke, lawit nor lerd c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxix. 8.
My dule spreit dois lurk for schoir 1528 Lynd. Dreme 84.
Fled frome the froste the tender flouris I saw Under dame Naturis mantyll lurking law 1570 Satirical Poems xv. 9.
Thou lauand, lurk; thow time, be tint
d. To live quietly or in concealment, ‘to keep out of the public eye’, not to show oneself prominently.a1400 Legends of the Saints xliii. 89.
Valaryane … Fand the bischope sanct Vrbane Lurkand ymang pure men mekly 1513 Doug. xiii. ix. 72.
Quhou vmquhile Saturn, fleand hys sonnis brand, Lurkyt and dwelt in Italy the land 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 47.
For feir of the sa[id] erll he lurkit a quhile out of court a1599 Melvill in Rollock's Wks. I. 293.
He eschewed all schawis and ostentatioun, to lurk at his studie and meditation he tuke pleasure 1600-1610 Id. Diary 272.
The bischope haid lurked a yeir or twa lyk a tod in his holl 1614 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 37 (7 Aug.).
Adverteisment to be maid to Tyrie & Abirdour in quhais bundis scho is thocht to be lurking 1626 Bk. Carlaverock II. 78.
Leist the honor sould haue sufferit desgrace throw my wantis, I lurkit a little a 1662 Baillie Lett. (1775) I. 147 (Jam.).
He has lurked since and carried himself far more cannily than any of that side 1690 Shields Grievances and Sufferings 18.
The formerly persecuted ministers, lurking in the land, [were] forced to leave it
e. transf. and, chiefly, fig. Of things: To be or remain hidden or latent, to be kept out of sight.1456 Hay II. 146/10.
That is veritee and lautee that lurkis in his hert, that apperis nocht outwart to mannis sycht 1490 Irland Mir. I. 164/37.
Forcaus that in thi realme has bene … errouris and herresiis lurkand 1513 Doug. ii. i. 64.
Thar lurkis sum falshed tharin, trastis me, Lippyn nocht, Troianys, … in this hors 1513 Ib. vi. ii. 121.
Amyd a rank tre lurkis a goldin bewch 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 2674. 1558-66 Knox II. 70. 1586 Calderwood IV. 526.
How lurd ignorance lurked under that lap of learning which he leads about with him 1590 R. Bruce Serm. 152.
There is great odds betwixt the faith that hurks for a quhill, and utters not the self, and the light that is utterlie put out 1651 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 628.
Some others said that that quhich was lurking. viz. separation, had now appeared 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 143.
As to the persuers it lurks and lyes under uncertanty quhat the omissa shall be
2. To go in a stealthy or furtive manner, to ‘steal’ or ‘slink’ away etc.c1420 Wynt. iv. 976.
That kyng … Away than lurkyd [W. lorkit] prewaly, In till a litill fysch scowte a1538 Abell 35 a.
Thai wer fane to lurk fra batell 1572 Satirical Poems xxxiii. 297.
First thair come in, lurkand vpon ȝour gait, Pryde and Inuy
3. To look furtively, to peer or peep.1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 78.
Me thocht I lurkit vp vnder my hnde To spy this ald
