A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Perk, v. Also: peark, park; pirk, pyrk. [e.m.E. perk (a 1529), pearke (Greene, 1588), corresp. to ME. and e.m.E. perch: cf. North. F. perquer = F. percher. Also in the later north. and East. Anglian Eng. dial.] a. intr. Of birds or, transf., of persons: To perch. Also in p.p., perched. b. reflex. To perch or set oneself, ? esp. on a high place. c. tr. ? To beat (cloth) with a fuller's staff (Perk n. 1 b), or ? to hang up (cloth) on some high place, to dry or bleach.a. 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 72.
Ane on a rolkis pynnakill perkit [Ruddim. parkit] hie Celeno clepit Ib. vi. iii. 90.
Thai [doves] … Of diuers naturis perkit on the tre Ib. xii. Prol. 237.
The cowschet crowdis and pyrkis [Sm. pirkis, Ruddim. pykkis] on the rys a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xviii. 41.
This girking pearkit in a place Quharin ouer long he did delyt 1653 Binning Wks. 445.
Because of such an idol perked up in the heart beside Godb. 1584 James VI Poems I. 48/1 19.
Syne she her self perkt in my chalmer still 1646 Vindication Government Church Scotland Ded.
[They] had … perked themselves up upon the pinacles of the highest honoursc. 1578 Chron. Perth 51.
That no walkar perk their webbs upoun Gray Friars walls
