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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Douk, Dowk, v. Also: douke, dowke, douck. [ME. douke, duke (c 1300), MDu. and MLG. dûken. See also Dulk v.]

1. intr. To dive or dip under water. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2780.
Ane paddok … Quhilk be nature culd dowk [v.r. douk] and gaylie swym 1513 Doug. viii. i. 104.
This ilk God of the flude Vnder the deip can dowk dovn quhar he stude 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xxxvii.
Thir fowlis … doukis, with ane fellon stoure, … in the see a1605 Montg. Flyt. 525 (T).
In dubbis dowkit duikis and draikis 1596 Dalr. I. 25/19.
Fische … quhilkes … thay bring from the sey ground, when thay dowk violentlie c1650 Spalding I. 63.
This monster … wold dovk wnder the water snorting and bullering

b. With up: To emerge from water. Also, to go up and down. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2877.
The paddok doun can preis, … quhyle dowkit vp agane 1581 Sat. P. xliii. 16.
Lyke draw well bukkets dowkand vp and doun

2. tr. To plunge (a person, etc.) under water, freq. as a punishment; to duck.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 742.
In the watter owther twyis or thryis He dowkit him 1513 Doug. xi. xvii. 98.
Phebus … Hys wery stedis had dowkyt our the hed Vnder the stremys of the occeane see 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 297.
To be tane to the depast and fowlest pule of wattir of the toun … , thair to be thryse dowkit 1586 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 454.
Thomas Bryntoun … to be putt to the croce, and scho to be banist the towne and dowket 1629 Elgin Rec. II. 212.
Agnes Troup … salbe brunt vpon the cheik and dowkit 1629 Boyd Last B. 59.
As long as Christ our head is aboue, wee his members may well bee dowked, but wee cannot be drowned(b) 1553 Doug. xi. xvii. 98.
Phebus … His wery stedis had doukit ouer the hede 1565 Canongate Kirk S. 16 March.
Elspeth Logan … to be anis douckit in the corrall hollis 1567 Sat. P. iii. 185.
My spirit hir spirit sall douke in Phlegethon 1602 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 24.
Jonett Scherar … to be … put in the kirk wolt, and thairefter to be doukit at the cran 1620 Crim. Trials III. 488.
Streking him with kentis and flaillis, and douking him in the mylne-leid or dam 1632 Elgin Rec. II. 224.
Issoble Cannoun ordeant to be doukit [etc.]