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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Screke, Scrike, Skrech, Skrych, n. Also: skrek(e, screik, skreik, scrake, scraik, skrik(e, (skirk), scryke, skryke, schruik; skreich, skriech, skreigh, screich; scritch; shraich. [ME and e.m.E. scryke (14th c.) skryke (c1400), scriche (1513), skreeche (1560), shreke (1577), skritche (1599), scrik (1614), screek (1681); Screke v.] A harsh, shrill sound; a penetrating cry, screech or shriek.Common in Doug.(a) 1513 Doug. ii xii 14.
Childring, effrayt matronys eik, Stude al on raw, with mony petuus screik Ib. iv viii 111 (Sm.).
And oft with wild skrek [C., Ruddim. scryke] the nycht oule, … was hard ȝoule Ib. vii Prol. 108.
The nycht owle, … Vgsum to heir was hir wild elrich screke [Sm. screik, Ruddim. skreik] 1587-99 Hume 43/66.
The tender child with sobs … And reuthfull skreikes(b) 1513 Doug. ii xi 1 (Ruthv.) (see (c) below).
Scrakis Ib. xii v 80 (Ruddim.).
Scraik [c., Sm. strake] (c) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 164/97.
The ja him skrippit with a skryke 1513 Doug. ii viii 83.
Duylful scryke [Sm. scrike, Ruddim. skrik] and walyng Ib. xi 1.
Skyrlys and … scrykis [Sm., Ruddim. skrekis, Ruthv. scrakis] Ib. vii vi 125.
Sum othiris went ȝelland under the lynd, Quhill all the skyis of thar scryke [Sm. screik, Ruddim. skrik, Ruthv. skirk] fordynnys Ib. xi iv 20.
The dolorus town … With petuus scrykis and gowlyng fyllit thai Ib. xii xiii 172 (Ruddim.).
Skrikis Ib. iv viii 111 (see (a) above).(d) 1535 Stewart 19723.
The schouting, crying, and the bailfull beir, So grislie gronis with mony schruikis skrill(e) 1549 Compl. 39.
The herrons gaif ane vyild skrech a1568 Bann. MS I p. 33/61.
Thow wes skurgit w^t skrech and skorne 1600 Crim. Trials II 250.
And going by the window … hard the Kings skreichs [Misc. Bann. C. I 147 skriechs] and cryis 1622 Ib. III 510.
With pitiefull screiches, schoutis, and cryis, lying in that horrible payne 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas 395.
The skreigh is rais'd, with many rewfull cries Id. Counter-buff 78.
Childish gazers, who With skriechs and clamours hiss him to and fro(f) c1590 J. Stewart 66/61.
Vith trimbling terror than vas skrychs … for till eschew this varior 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 220.
Suddenly hee gave a great scritch, and fell into madnesse(g) 1587-99 Hume 54/59.
Let heir the shraichs of deadly clarions