Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Holk, (Hoik,) v. Also: hoke, hock. See also Howk v. [Northern ME. holke (14–15th c.), MLG. and LG. holken, to make hollow, hollow out.]

1. tr. To dig (ground), to pierce, excavate, to dig into or dig up.(a) 1513 Doug. ii. viii. 47.
We start ontil a hie turate … , We holk and mynd the corneris 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 213.
Nocht to mak the samyn [space] brader, nor ȝit to holk it hower nor the calsay 1581 Ib. IV. 202.
Vnderstanding the toune wallis to be holkit, ruinous, and falteis in dyuers places 1588 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 357.
Thai … holkit and undermyneit the samyne [dyke] 1607 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 292.
It sal not be lesum … to delue or holk the said commoun inche(b) 1581 Elgin Rec. I. 163.
That na persone … hoik or fla the samyn [moss] in ony kynd sort(c) 1581-1623 James VI Poems II. 15/37.
Lett him digg a pitt & hollou hoke the same

b. With advbs. To dig down, furth, out, up. Also transf. to poke out (the eyes). 1513 Doug. ii. x. 92.
Neptune … Vndermyndis rownd about the towne, Furth of the grond holkand the barmkyn doun Ib. iii. ix. 110.
With rutis of herbis [that] I holkit furth [R. out] of land 1533 Boece ii. v. 67.
Gif we be vincust … our ene sall be holkit out 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 270.
Hes scho not helpit to holk out ȝone tod? 1650 Nicoll Diary 21.
Quhois eyes they holkit out of his heid

c. intr. To penetrate, make way as by digging. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 186.
Thow … vgly averill, With hurkland banis, holkand throw thy hyd 1513 Doug. vi. ix. 139.
Ane hydduus grype … Vndir his cost holkand in wail law 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5293.
To pyke and holk, and vndermine the towre

2. To form by digging or excavating. 1513 Doug. i. vii. 18.
Ȝonder other sum the new havyn holkis Ib. iii. vi. 116.
A huge deip gat [was] thar holkit belyfe Ib. v. iv. 104.
Quhar hir sweit nest is holkyt in the stayn 1533 Inchcolm Chart. 65.
Richard … hes laitlie … drevin in and holkit the samin [coal-pot] withtin the said … landis 1659 Rothesay Par. Rec. 14.
The bones quhilk they dig vp when they hock the grave

3. To dig up, get out of the ground by digging. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1702.
Sum holkit claye, sum brynt the tylde