A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Halk-hen, n. Also: halck-, haulk-. [Halk n.] A tribute of poultry, levied on crown- and bishop's-lands in Orkney and Caithness. 1502 Orkney Rentals i. .
With xxiiij cunningis tantum skynnis for Sandisend & xxiiij halk hennis Ib. 48. 1553 Reg. Great S. 166/1.
Prebentes annuatim … 12 duodenas pultriarum. … 12 lie halk hennis 1557 Sutherland Chart. 119.
Cum tribus gallinis, lie halk hennis 1595 Orkney Rentals ii. 5.
Summa … iiij pultre. by the halk hen[s] or reik hens 1600 Reg. Great S. 353/1.
Cum omnibusavibus, … lie kane-fouilis sive halk henis 1623 Ib. 168/1.
3 lie haulkhennis1697 Brabster Rental in Old-lore Misc. VIII. 205.
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"Halk-hen n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Feb 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/halk_hen>