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.
Pik, Pyk, Pic(k, n.1 Also: picke; pe(c)k, peke, peik; pike. [North. ME. pik, pik(k)e, e.m.E. (north.) pyk (1571), OE. pic, ON. bik, OS. pik, Du. pek, pik, L. pix, pic-em. Cf. Pi(t)che n.1, Pix n.2Also in the mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dials.]
Pitch.For further examples, see Brinstane n. and Brintstane n.Also proverb., fig., and attrib. with -barrel, -hous, etc. Cf. pik tow with pikkit tow (s.v. Pikkit ppl. a.2, quot. for 1556–7), for which it may be erroneous.(1) 1375 Barb. xvii. 611 (E).
Pyk and ter als haiff thai tane a1400 Leg. S. xix. 558.
Pyk [: it] Ib. xxxii. 733.
& [gert] … Thare-in be done Blak pic & gert brynstane bla And undir it a fyre gert ma 1435 Exch. R. IV. 619.
Quatuor barellis bituminis videlicet pik 1468 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 23. a1500 Henr. III. 151/35.
Put all thir in ane pan with pepper and pik … For the collik c1475 Wall. viii. 775.
The Inglismen … Wp pyk and ter on feyll sowys thai lent a1500 Seven S. 891.
A caldron full of pik [: stik] a1500 Bk. Chess 932.
Sum said … To byrne thaim boith in hat leid and in pik [: quyk] 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 284.
A pund of pyk for the pailȝoune threid 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1318.
Pick 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 284.
For ane barrell pik to the keyll 1511 Edinb. Hammermen 73.
For pik & … hardis for to clos the lang kist with quhar the mys come in 1531 Bell. Boece I. 136. 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 189.
For the calfalting of ane part of the plat forme ruiff … with pyk and cannous 1540 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 170.
Necessaris requirit to the said schip … sic as … culueringis pulder … pyk and vapnis 1558–9 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 28.
The fute of this croce fillit with pik and other mettall … to cause it stand 1560 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 22.
Pick 1587 Carmichael Etym. 22.
Pix, pick 1622-6 Bisset II. 261/21.
Ane theif … salhave his heid schorne or schavin and melted pik … layd on his heid [etc.] 1680 Fawside Coal Compt 59.
Picke 1690 Lanark B. Rec. 237.
The tounes pick 1696 Foulis Acc. Bk. 190.(b) 1595 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 70 b.
For pek and tar 1605 Edinb. Test. XL. 12 b.
Tua barrell of peck at viij li. the barrell(c) 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 66 a.
For barell peke(d) 1601 Dundee Shipping P. 71.
For oyllei to the peik(e) 1623 Edinb. Test. LII. 84.
Pike(2) c1590 Fowler I. 52/132.
We … bothe together marked lyke and touched with one pik(3) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiv. 101.
The devillis als black as pik 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 131.
And rekand as the pyk Ib. v. xii. 56.
The drumly schour … Als blak as pyk … Fyllys the schippys 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary II. 170.
He appeared to be in ane greit effray and was black as any pikproverb. a1568 Bann. MS. 135 a/49.
Quha handillis pik or tar He is nocht haisty clene a1605 Montg. Devot. P. v. 7.
Wald thow be clene? touch nather pick nor tar c1590 J. Stewart 234/136.
Quho tuitchis pick vith it vill fyll thair hand a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 802.fig. 1585–6 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 441 (see Pol(l)ute v. 1).attrib. 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 252.
Pik barrell 1586–7 Ayr B. Acc. 156.
Expenssis sustenit in the burning of the witche of Barnweill … pyk barrellis, colis, rosat 1605–6 Montrose Treas. Acc. 2. —1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 458.
To colis for the pik hous —1538 Treas. Acc. VIII. 160.
For ane pykpoit to the Sallamander 1612 Edinb. Test. XLVII. 8 b.
Tua irne pik pottis 1613 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 105.
That na pik pots be hett within schips 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 27.
Peik pot —1539–41 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 282.
For ane pik tow to the caichpule price vi s.
