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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.

Flake, Flaik, n. Also: flaick. [ME. flake (1415), ON. flake. Cf. Flek n.]

1. A hurdle; a piece of frame-work.(a) 1438 Exch. R. V. 58.
Pro [124] flakis pro bobus et ovilibus regis c1475 Wall. xi. 898.
Thai … Hadyr and hay bond apon flakys fast 1513 Doug. xi. ii. 14.
Sum of Eneas ferys bissely Flakis to plet thame presys 1539 Ayr Common Good Acc. MS.
For making & mending of … flakis, barrowis, cartis [etc.] 1556–7 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 222.
For ane flak and nails to the barrowis 1560–1 Ib. 349.
For thre flaks to mak pulder small with(b) c1475 Wall. vii. 985.
Flaikis thai laid on temyr lang and wicht 1533 Boece x. xiii. 380 b.
Apon ane burde or flaik coverit with ane mat or mantill onelie 1535 Stewart 24492.
Congallus deuysit … That euerie man ane flaik sould mak of tre 1554–5 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 42.
For clenging of the styllis … under the irne flaiks 1624 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 259.
Ten flaiks for drying wooll

2. A frame on which cheese, meat, etc., are laid or displayed. Also attrib. with stand. 1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 128.
Ane flaik with ane flaik stand 1609 Ib. 305.
That all cheis to be sald … upon the mercat day be laid vpone standis, flaikis, or burdis 1634 Ib. II. 24.
That the haill fleschouris … stand with thair flaikis … vp the gait about the Stinking Vennell 1638 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. iii.
Ane stellitour, with the tuo flaicks and brewing loomes 1683 Stirling B. Rec. II. 40.
[The cordiners] to stand in the Hie Street as formerlie with their made work on their flaiks or stands