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-,) Py(c)k-thank, n. Also: pick-. [e.m.E. picke thanke (a 1573). Cf. Pike-thank n.] a. A toady or sycophant. b. A tale-bearer. —c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxii. 43.
To be a pykthank I wald preif For thay in warld wantis no plesans Ib. lx. 53.
Ane pyk-thank in a prelottis clais 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 390. a1578 Pitsc. I. 231/19.
Na couerttis nor pykthankis sould be trust in his companie 1584 Calderwood IV. 117.
Arran had some of his flatterers and pyckthanks present 1584 Melvill 202.
Be trattelles, lies and forgit tealles lyk warldlie pykthanks a1605 Montg. Flyt. 109 (H). 1641 Sc. Hist. Rev. IX. 363.
That prelats and pick-thanks this land had ov'rgane
