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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.

Harkin, v. Also: -ine, -en. [ME. harken (14th c.), later form of Herkin.]

1. intr. To listen, esp. hard or attentively; to listen heedfully, pay heed. Const. to.(1) 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 17.
Palynurus furth of his cowch vpsprent, Lysnyng about, and harknyng our alquhar Id. K. Hart 55.
Ane [servitor] for the nicht, that harknit bissely Out of quhat airt that ever the wyndis blew 1535 Stewart 2774.
How it hapnit harkin and ȝe sall heir a1568 Bann. MS. 134 a/3.
Harkin and I sall tell ȝow fow it was(2) 1564 Inverness Rec. I. 113.
Euerie inhabitant … sall resort … to the paroche kirk … and harkin to the Word of God a1586 Lindsay MS. 7.
The officeris of armes … suld … harkin graythlie to ony language … betuix thame(3) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1079.
Because that thow hes … harknit to thy wyfe, Now sall thow lose this plesand lyfe a1578 Pitsc. II. 260/12.
God send ws his word … quhilk was frielie prechit … and ȝit we wald nocht harkin thairto 1576 Edinb. Test. IV. 119 b.
The said mother sall harkin onlie to the counsall of the saidis tutouris 1641 Acts V. 334/1.
He will not harkine to anie divisive motioune or misinformatioune 1659 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 427.
The sessioune aught … to condischend to the said call of Mr. Fergusoune, to the quhilk if the sessioune be willing to harkin, [etc.]

2. tr. To listen to; to heed. 1513 Doug. iv. x. 76.
May thou vundir sa gret danger sleip, … Nor harknys the fair wynd blawys of landis? 1567 G. Ball. 239.
Harkin quhat I say 1576 Bann. Trans. 489.
He bad him harken what he hard at the dure, wha hard as he did a1586 Lindsay MS. 17.
[He] suld harkin and tak gude tent quhat is said to him