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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Blek, Bleck, v. Also: blecke, bleak. [e.m.E. blecke, ME. blek-, bleck- (Wyclif). Cf. Blek,n.]

1. tr. To make black; to blacken, spec. with ink.(1) 1456 Hay I. 28/33.
Thai ar all smyttit with that ilke myrknes, of the quhilk the sternis was blekkit a1585 Polwart Flyt. 50.
Blaide, blecke thee, to bring in a gyse 1604-31 Craig iii. 16/22.
By these base Nicotian bleads … To spoill, mar, blek, the stomach, brane, and skull a1650 Row 440.
It was his comfort … that he never blecked nor disfigured the well-favoured face of the Kirk of Scotland(2) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 123.
That I with ink may do bot paper blek 1560 Rolland Seven S. 335/27.
Gif sum verse haltis, … tak out ane pen and blek thame 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 216.
Giff this had bene thair first inventit lie, I wald neuer haue bleckit paper for it 1602 Colville Parænese Ep. 28.
Tho you suld blek as much paper as be in all the ten tomes of S. Augustin 1625 Garden Kings 32.
Thow had no doing then, That worthie wes to blek a book

2. fig. To stain, blemish, defile. c1420 Wynt. v. 5805.
Nevyre nane wes off hys kyne … That evyr wes ble[k]kyd wyth that blame 1456 Hay I. 29/7.
The cristin faith, that is blekkit and our-thrawin with … fals governaunce 1461 Liber Plusc. 400.
Thi saul, thine honour blekkit pitevisly c1460 Consail Wys Man 58.
His faloschip sal blek thi fame 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 266 b.
His ymage … deformyt and blekkit with our syn 1551 Hamilton Cat. 122.
All the deformiteis and spottis of syn, quhilk blekkis our saule a1568 Scott xxxiv. 140.
Ȝe suld it fvnd inorme, With bawdry ȝow to blek 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. Pref.
Sen ye are wairned, I wald not ye were blekkit 1596 Dalr. II. 213/23.
His … , wicketnes, and al foul filthines, quhairwith his lyfe he had bleked

b. To blacken in character or reputation; to blame; disparage. 1535 Stewart 40022.
With litill pley quhome he plesit to blek Ib. 42294.
Quhither or nocht he was thairof to blek a1578 Pitsc. I. 42/30.
I wald nocht … that ȝe sould obscuire nor bleak [v.r. blek] the honourabill factes 1596 Dalr. I. 97/7.
Sum barbarous wryteris inconsideratlie wald in thair wryteng bleck al the Scottis Ib. 33.
Quhome lykwyse thay blek in another thing na les cruel