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 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mok, Mock(e, n. Also: moik. [Late ME. (c 1440) and e.m.E. mokk, mok, mock(e, f. Mok v.]

1. An act of mockery or derision, a derisive action or speech.See also Mow n.³ 3 for further examples. a1500 Colk. Sow i. 309.
Joly Mertene with a mok 15.. Christis K. 29 (B). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4569.
Say ȝe that for ane mock? 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 177/5.
Quhat Christiane man may pacientlie thoill sic intollerable mokkis and leys? a1568 Wedderburn Bann. MS. 260b/57.
Scho plaid with me buk hud With mony scornis and mokkis behind my bak a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 79.
Quhen I the mokkis of vther men behald Ȝea ofttymes man I lauch suppois I irk 1570 Sat. P. xxii. 78. 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Scomma, a mock ?a1640 Copie of a Baron's Court 31.
Your worship hears, who can abide his mocks? 1603 Philotus § clv.
Jock, That mowit my dochter for a mock Colvil 1681 Whigs' Suppl. (1757) 62.
Other some got mocks and scorns By giving to their landlords horns

b. In phrases with verbs: = to mock, deride.(To make or do) a mock; (to make) a mock (at); (to forge, give, make) a mock (to a person or const. indirect obj.); (to mak) a mock (of something).(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlix. 45.
Wyvis thus makis mokkis Spynnand on rokkis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1656.
Mak diligence, me think ȝe do bot mocks(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 143 (Makc.).
A fuyll … Quhilk at sciens makis bot a mok [Ch. moik] & scorne c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 279.
In to my mynd makand mokis at that mad fader 1562-3 Winȝet I. 58/33.
In forgeing a mok to me mony mylis fra him, calling me Procutar for the Papistis a1568 Scott ii. 141.
Than every man gaif Will a mok And said he wes our meik a1568 Jok & Jynny 14.
Muder, ȝone man makis ȝow a mok a1568 Balnavis Bann. MS. 139a/63.
Quhen thay thé se thay bleir thyne e And makis at thé ane mok(3) 1655 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 136.
He did mack ane moke of repentance by putting in of sneishen in his eyes to make them tear

2. An object of derision, a joke or laughing-stock. 1513 Doug. vi. i. 146.
For dreid al turn bot til a mok or bourdis [L. ludibria] 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 127.
They hald it still vp for a mocke, How Maister Patrik fedd his flock