A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Wak, adj. and n. Also: wakk, wacke, vak, uakk(e, wake, waik. [MDu. wak, ON *wakw-, Icel. vǫkr.]
A. adj.Moist, damp, wet.(a) 1513 Doug. iii ix 2.
Aurora the wak nycht dyd arest And chays fra hevyn 1513 Doug. iv ix 27.
The wak hunny sweit 1513 Doug. v x 89.
Fysch swymmand … In the wak sey 1513 Doug. vi xii 42.
Wysnand wyndis wak [Ruddim. wake] 1531 Bell. Boece II 347.
The hervist was sa wak in the yeir afore 1533 Boece 143a.
Contynuall clowdis in thai partis wak and hwmyd 1533 Boece 293b.
Ane parte of his armye war ȝit wak & wett be bapteme 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii 1.
Ȝe vapurs wak, and watters in the air! a1585 Polwart Flyt. 581 (T).
For fundrit beistis for fault of humour wak [: lak, tak, abauk; H. for fault of foodde full weak] Hes not thair hairis so sned as totheris gude c1590 J. Stewart 215 § 61.
Vak c1590 Fowler I 93/191.
With face besprent and visage wak with teares c1590 Fowler I 247/6.
Wakk 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 153b.
They make the claith wak and donke [Acts I 337/2, thai mak it donke and wete] casting vpon it washe, vrine, [etc.] 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 167/498.
Uakke [1591 wake] autumnus 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 48/33.
Uakk 1634 Wedderburn Gramm. 47.
Madeo, to bee wacke(b) 1513 Doug. vi xii 42 (Ruddim.) (see (a) above).
Wake 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Permadeo, to be verray waik [1617 wacke] 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 167/498 (see (a) above).
Wake
b. With reference to the humours of medieval medicine.1528 Lynd. Dreme 388, 415.
The mone … Off nature wak and cauld … Uenus … is baith hote and wak of hir nature 1533 Bell. Livy II 224/8.
The Gaulis mycht neuer patientlie suffir, for thai ar nurist with wak humouris and caldnes
B. noun. Moistness, wetness.1456 Hay I 76/6.
Quhen it [sc. the moon] is full, all thingis … that ar governyt be wak or moystnes, ar mare … vigorous na quhen it is wane 1608 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 47.
The tounis marche hes bene lyk as uther gaits throw wak and mossis … subject to alteration 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 117/28.
Uith the hie The uakke uith drie the colde
