A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1490-1662
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Rek, Ra(c)k(e, n.3 Also: reck(e; reak; raik. [Appar. only Sc. till 1568. Cf. e.m.E. recke (1568), reake (1594); Rek v.4]
1. Care, heed, regard.It is … rek, it is a matter for concern or of importance.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2733.
Suppois he [etc.] … suld de For falt of fude thairof thay gif na rak c1550 Rolland Court of Venus Prol. 75.
Of euill or gude he takis lytill rek [:effect] 1560 Id. Seven Sages 2707.
Lesings to raine thow takis bot lytill rek(2) c1490 Porteous Noblenes 180/19 (Asl.).
It is na rek nor compt of his lyf that sawis nocht deligence 1535 Stewart 20217.
‘Quhairfoir’ he said ‘it war bot littill rak Gif [etc.](3) a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1185.
To tell scho said it dar [? = thar needs] na rak With thi ȝe tak it in effek
2. Quhat rek, What matter? What does it matter? No matter. It does not matter. It is of no consequence. Variously const. Also b. with concessive clause or infin. as compl. = Why not? Cf. Quhat adj. 10 a. Only Sc.; also in the later dial. as whatreck etc. (Cf. also quhat reckis s.v. Rek v.4 6.) (1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) lii [C] 30.
Thocht a man haif a brokin bak, Haif he a gude tailȝour, quhattrak [M. quhat rak]? 1540 Lynd. Sat. 742 (B).
Dissait: A freir! quhairto? thow can not preiche. Flattry: Quhattrak bot I can flatter and fleiche [Ch. Quhat rak man I can richt weill fleich] a1568 Bannatyne MS 144a/26.
‘Wer nocht for fyling of ȝour clayis.' ‘Quhat rek?’ q scho, ‘I am weill cled, Ȝe ar our red for windil strayis' a1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvii 87.
Bot, quhen the court cumis to the toun, quhat reck? We sall restoir thame to thair stok agane a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1359 (Wr.).
Though it be cumbersome, what recke? 1603 Philotus 105.
Thocht he be auld, my joy, quhat reck? Quhen he is gane giue him ane geck 1603 Ib. 223, 501. c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis fol. 8b.
Quhat rak 1662 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries XXII 220.
The said Henry said, … ‘What reak, it matters not, go in with me and get an snuff’(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) lxxi 22.
Thay do no mis bot gif thay kis [etc.] … Quhat rek of this? Thair mater is Brocht to conclusioun 1540 Lynd. Sat. 210 (B).
Quhatraik [Ch. quhat rak] of ȝour prosperetie Gif ȝe want Sensualitie? 1540 Ib. 3292.
The Merss sowld fynd me beif & caill, Quhattrak [Ch. quhat rak] of breid? a1568 Bannatyne MS 163a/10.
Quattrack Lord of that for anis mon I die 1590 St. A. Kirk S. 674.
Quha ansuerit, ‘I haif nather womanis milk nor kowis milk to gif it … ' Than Elene said, ‘Quhat rak of that?’ 1609 Criminal Trials III 47.
‘My lord will ȝe ryid away and leif this bludie theif behind ȝou?' Then the lord [sc. Maxwell] ansuerit, ‘Quhat rak of him? For the vther hes anewche’ 1622 in Calderwood VII 564.
What racke(3) 1578 Waus Corr. 196.
Bot al this is na mater, quhat rek of the saying of it? 1587-99 Hume 81/42.
Quhat rack what befall vnto thee a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1272.
Quhat rak quhat ye say ye sall not be trowitb. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 544.
Quhatraik [Ch. quhat rak] thocht ȝe and I Go ione our iusting lwmes? 1603 Philotus 247.
Quhat reck to tak the bogill-bo My bonie burd for anis?