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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.

Glaik(i)s, n. pl. Also: glaikes; glaick(k)es, glaikkis; glaykis. [Of obscure origin. Cf. Glaik v. and Glaikit a.]

1. Mocking deception, trickery. Cf. Glaik v. 2. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 497.
Greit in the glaykis, gude Maister Gilliam gukkis a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxviii. 78.
This wikit meir sa weill thame staikis And ambillis with thame in the glaikis That [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II. 471/12.
He … skairs obteined … another writeng, sensles, ful of gukis & glaikis [L. fucis … plenum]

b. In phrases: To play (with) one the glaiks: to trick; to get the glaikis: to be deceived; to follow or hunt the glaiks: to go on a fool's errand. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1871.
I se they haue playit me the glaiks [B. playd with me the glaikkis] 1571 Sat. P. xxv. 110.
This sylit, begylit, They will bot get the glaikis 15.. Black Bk. Taymouth 162.
We had the ky, and thai gat bot the glaikis 1600 Colville Lett. 299.
Our maitters, farder avanset nor ewer thai war, hes walknet our ennemies to follow the glaickkes 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. i. 55.
We did nothing but hunt the glaiks, For after we had got our paiks, They took us every one as prizes

2. A contemptuous epithet applied, or name given, to a foolish person. Cf. Glaik v. 1. 15.. Christis Kirk 203.
His wyf bad him gang hame, gud Glaikis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4390.
Cum heir, gude Glaiks [B. gud Gukkis], my dochter deir … Cum hidder, Stult, my sone and air c1590 Fowler Ans. 27/20.
The conclusion ausuerit, Ergo glaikis, vith vther iniurious words

3. Sensual desire, wantonness. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxv. 12.
He clappit fast, he kist, and chukkit, As with the glaikis he wer ouirgane a1568 Scott xxxlv. 16.
Quhat is ȝour lufe bot lust?. Ane pastance vnperfyte To smyte ȝow with the glaikis 1584 Sat. P. xlv. 253.
Yit with the glaikis he was owergane, And in adulterie he was tane c1600 Montg. Suppl. 198/1.
King Cupaid, gracles god of glaikes

4. As the name of a game. Also fig. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 30.
Johnne Hamiltoun … quhome with mery lukis and gentill contenance … scho enterit in the game of the glaiks, and causit the rest of the Hamiltonis to fon for faynnes 1610 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 312.
Scolleris and printicis … haunting the yardis quhair the alie bowlis, French kylis, and glaikis ar usit