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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dawerk, Dawark, n. Also: dawerke, dawwerk; dawork, dawirk. [Variants of Daywerk, with shortened first syllable. Cf. also Dark and Darg.]

1. A day's work, esp. in field labour.(a) c1420 Wynt. ix. 1562.
In the Stermond at Gasklune That dulefule dawerke [C. dawwerk] that tyme wes done Ib. 1606.
That dulefull dawerk 1465 Peebles B. Rec. 154.
Thai sall cwm [to work] vnder the payn of a mannys dawerk, and that is vj d. 1488 Acta Conc. 118/2.
vj cotlandis … extending ȝerely to xl d. & thre dawerk 1528 Carnwath Baron Ct. 38.
Iane Vilson foloit the men of the Estschell … for iiij bollis of corne & ane half & ij dawerik [sic] of medo 1539 Reg. Privy S. II. 470/2.
With all malis, fermis, grassumes, proffittis, dawerkis at teling, sawing, [etc.](b) c1420 Ratis R. 1141.
Be syk vantone vyrk … Thi dayly dawark is done ilk deill 1522 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIII. 71.
To content & pay to the saidis Robert and Katrine … for cariage & scheir dawarkis ȝerely vj merkis [etc.] 1573 Black Bk. Taymouth 220.
[To give] yeirly ane dawark of plowing, ane of harrowing, ane of pettis leding(c) 1542 Prestwick B. Rec. 58.
The jugis contenewis the price of the dawork bigane, and ordanis Roben Housoun to … mak gud seruice … ondir the payne of ylk dawork xij d. 1550 Lanark Sheriff Ct. MS. 38 b.
viii dayworks of medo, the profett of ilk dawork in wone hay xiiii s.(d) 1566 Peebles B. Rec. 301.
The said baillies … oblist thame yeirlie to gif to the said Stephane ane dawirk of ilk inhabitur of the haill toune to suport the said wairk Ib. 302.
Quha giffis nocht the said dawirkis … yeirle

2. The result or produce of a day's work, esp. a definite quantity of hay or peats.(a) 1490 Acta Aud. 140/1.
Nyne hundreth … thraifis of foder … ; fiftj dawerk of hay 1535 Reg. Great S. 439/1.
Cum … 2 dietis glebarum vel cespitum, viz. in vulgari twa dawerkis of peittis or turffis 1546 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) Merschell v. Muire.
Tua dawerkis of petis reddy elding, price of the dawerk xl s.(b) 1483 Acta Conc. II. p. cxxiii.
x dawark of hay, price x merk 1491 Acta Aud. 147.
For the … spoliatioun of vj dawarkis of hay 1502 Acta Conc. MS. XII. 41 b.
The sade … dois wrang in the … withhalding of the sadis sex dawarkis of hay 1547 Ib. XXIII. 151.
Twa dawarkis of petis … , price of the dawark xl s.(c) 1541 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. vi. Myller v. Hunter.
Thre daworkis of hay … price of ilk dawork ȝeirlie ourheid xiij s. 1547 Prestwick B. Rec. 60.
Ylk freman sal cast bot iiij dawork of pettis in the ȝere, … and thyr iiij daworkis to be cassen besowth the merche 1548 Lanark Sheriff Ct. MS. 7.
The said Allane … hes … withhaldin … awcht daworkis of haye, price of ilk dawork xx s. 1562 Prestwick B. Rec. 66.
Licience … to cast ane dawork of pettis in our he mos(d) 1554 Prestwick B. Rec. 62.
Gif Iohne Brovne … aucht and suld haue fouyr dawirk of petis Ib. 63.