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

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

Neuk, Newk, n. Also: neuke, newke, newik, neuck(e, newck, neock. [sc. var. of Nuk(e n.; also north. e.m.E. newke (1575–6).]

1. The corner or angle of a. a flat object, b. a piece of land, = Nuk(e n. 1 a, b.Within the four neukis of, entirely within, completely inside.a. (1) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts x. 11.
He saw heuen opnit and a vessel cummand doun as a gret schete with iiij newkis [P. corneris] c1520-c1535 Ib. Rev. vii. 1.
I saw foure angelis standing on the iiij corneris (or newkis) of the erd Ib. ix. 13. 1531 Treas. Acc. V. 462.
Twa trunscheouris squair with ane salt falt in ane newk of the samyn a1586 Lindsay MS. 83 b.
To mak ane quadrangle forme & this to be four newkit or of ma newkis 1597 Crim. Trials II. 27.
Scho … fyrit the water and brunt stray at ilk newke of the bed 1600-1610 Melvill 118.
He spak … urgit be the commanders at the four newkes of the skaffald 1684 Greyfriars Interments 719.
11 els of raw cloth … with a pies gray cloth on the newk … 23 els of raw cloth … with this of thrid nir the newk: Q(2) 1615 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 64 (25 Oct.).
That thare was ane vther woman … lyand within the four neukis of hir bed 1672 M. Bruce Rattling Dry Bones 32.
There is ground enough for it [faith] to stand upon, within the four neocks of the bibleb. 1538 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 18.
All the lef fra the north neuk of the Hely fald … to lye in the commonty 1552 Prot. Bk. M. Carruthers 55.
The yaird newk [of the said John] 1642 Rothesay B. Rec. 952.
At the waird neuk … j aiker

2. A headland or promontory. = Nuk(e n. 2. 1657 Balfour Ann. IV. 313.
Cromuell past ouer a grate pairt of his armey from Lothean to Fyffe … at the neucke below the Queinsferrey

3. A corner of anything as a separate portion; a small part. = Nuke n. 3. 1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 185.
If I submitt my cloake to a committie it may be they take a newke of it

4. The external angle of a building, etc.; the corner of a street. = Nuk(e n. 4. 1485 Lag Chart. 54.
Fra the newk of the house of the gait c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. vi. 5.
Ypocritis that luvis to pray standand in … newkis of stretis c 1540 Reg. Morton I. 6.
Ane of the saidis kistis … haifand … crampattis of irne about the anglaris gawillis and newkis of the samyne 1596 (1650) Dundee B. Laws 145.
To caus edifie … ane steiple … wpon the east newk … of the new toibuith 1614 Brown Paisley I. 197.
Fra the brig porte to the catchpeull newik 1620 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 199.
Fra the … lytill house … to the walneuk of Paislaye 1653 Stirling B. Rec. II. 207.
The lang calsay that leadis towardis the park newk 1704 Foulis Acc. Bk. 357.
Newck

5. a. An inner corner. = Nuk(e n. 5 a. 1616 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 346.
The back dyick of the colledge yard, quhilk is creuisched and speldit at the wast neuck thairof 1616 Orkney & Zetl. Sheriff Ct. 72 b.
She … tuik thrie luikis of assis out of thrie newkis of the chimnay 1633 Rutherford Christ's Napkin 23.
It is all one whether we have it in our chist-neuk or if it be in Christ's purse 1685 Sinclair Satan's Invisible World 23.
Four newks in this house for haly angels

b. A corner of a bag; a pouch formed by the fold of a plaid. = Nuk(e n. 5 b. 1591–5 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 125.
Ane polk with foure newkis 1662 Crim. Trials III. 605.
Johne Taylor browght hom the clay in his plaid newk

6. An outlying or remote part. = Nuk(e n. 6. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 171/541.
Adam lyke a hairt is quho doth in a uooddis neuke stay 1650 Sc. Ch. Hist. Soc. Rec. VI. 93.
Tlie kirke is situate neir the north west neuk of the paroche ?1665 M. Bruce Six Dreadfull Alarms 19.
To preach in that place and neock of the country Id. Rattling Dry Bones 35.

b. In all neuks, in every part or district (of a country). 1590-1 Bruce Serm. 314.
Is it possible that it [sc. this country] can be heavier ladened with mischief in all neuks nor it is now?