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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Thik, Thick, adv. Also: thike, thyk(e, thilk, thycht. [ME and e.m.E. þicke (c1290), thikc (Cursor M.), thikke (Chaucer), þik (c1400), thyk (c1500), OE þicce.]

1. In a densely clustered or crowded fashion; in large numbers in close proximity to one another. 1375 Barb. xvi 399.
Byrkis … That ȝoung and thik war growand ner a1400 Leg. S. i 707.
His angelis … Full thik abowt Sanct Petir stand ?1438 Alex. i 233.
Emynedus beheld Thame of Gaderis our-tak the feild, That thikkar our the hillis did thraw Than [etc.] ?1438 Alex. i 1649.
The Turkis with arrowis braid Schott thikker weill than hale or snaw c1420 Wynt. ii 1174.
Haylstanys gryt in to that flycht Sa hewy thyk and hard can lycht c1420 Wynt. iv 820.
For thai war off sic multitude, And swa thyk togyddyr stude, That [etc.] 1460 Hay Alex. 1447.
Bodyis but hedis thik lyand in the feild c1475 Wall. iii 134.
A maner dyk … Narrowyt the way quhar throuch thai thikar raid 1513 Doug. vii xii 35.
Or how feil eichyrris of corn thik [Ruddim. thick] growyng … doys hyng On Hermy feildis 1513 Doug. vii xiii 30.
Ane ost of fut men … Thik forgaderis the large feildis about 15.. Clar. v 388.
Ane goune … With orient pearles … Whilk war full thike and grit thairupon set 15.. Clar. v 1085.
Companies thik ryding throw the fieldis 1638 Elphinstone Mun. 26.
Broun veluote breikes thik wrocht our with silk lese c1680 Morisone in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 212.
Somtyms in a stormie night they creep to them where they sleep thikest and … they take them be the necks(b) a1500 Lanc. 840.
And al his folk returnyt is ayayne Atour the feld, and cummyne thilk as haill(c) 1513 Doug. vii xii 35 (Ruddim.) (see (a) above).
Thick 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Eclogues i 14.
Densas corylos, in angustis spatiis divisas (the hissell tries that growis thick together) 1587-99 Hume 61/294.
Quhat bullets euer flew sa thick? 1657 R. Moray Lett. 63.
As to the straightnesse of firre trees in all the woods I ever saw where the trees grow anything thick they are ever straight 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 345.
Lovats salmon fishing on the water of Beuly run so thick that all the fatts in the country wer called in to the corphhouse to salt them 1685 Sinclair Satan's Inv. World 35.
In the bed-chamber glass flew about so thick (and yet not one lozen of the chamber windows broken) that they thought it had rained money

2. Thickly; to a considerable thickness or depth. c1420 Wynt. viii 4504.
Thai off dew wald lyk, Quhare thai fand it owcht fallyn thyke 1583 Edinb. Test. XIII 44b.
Ane goun of Londoun broun thik bordorit with veluot 1586 Treas. Acc. MS 60.
Grein weluet to bar the fals hous [sc. of a saddle] thick about according to the covering 1596 Dalr. I 36/15.
This land … will be sax, sevin or viii cubites hich of fat mossie ground … the ground growing sa thick [etc.]

3. In rapid succession; frequently, at short intervals; fast, at a rapid pace. 15.. Dunb. App. iv 24.
For thay will say that I bakbyte; So thik that surname dois incres a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlviii 44.
Bayth thik and nymmill gais the spwle 1573 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxix 152.
Gude M. Setoun maid thair grumis agast, He gart the cannones ga sa thik amang thame 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 236.
The fudder fell so thick Doun dryuing and ryuing The leiues that thay did lick c1590 Fowler I 92/153.
I vsed this craft to draw the bak and spur the thick agane 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 107.
The said Christane Hendersoune being henwyiff in Fovern, the young foullis died thick 1638 Baillie I 32.
The posts rann thick betuixt the court and the counsell, which satt every other day a1658 Durham Blessedness Death (1682) 36.
This [sc. doubt of salvation at death] may through grace be answered and it would not be strengthened by refusing the offer of Gods grace even then, especially if God call thick, to say so 1698 Maxwell Mem. II 112.
I fynd the chancelour sends the flying packetts verie thick

b. Of rain: Heavily; with little intermission. a1400 Leg. S. xl 574.
Thare-with fel the rane sa thycht That, [etc.]