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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pik, Pyk, Pick(e, n.² Also: pek; pei(c)k. [ME. and e.m.E. pic (1340), pyk (14th c.), pykke (Cath. Angl.), pick (1495), a collateral form of pike Pik(e n.¹ Cf. Pikn.³]

1. A metal tool or implement, in its simplest form a bar tapered to a point at one end; later, consisting of a metal head fitted with, or to, a wooden shaft.Once, pl. without inflection.Also attrib. and comb.pl. (1) 1375 Barb. ii. 541.
Then war the wiffys thyrland the wall With pikkis Ib. xvii. 342 (E).
With instrumentis of ser maneris As scaffaldis … Pikkys howis [etc.] 1455 Exch. R. VI. 92.
[Pro diversis instrumentis] xj pikkis … v matokis 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 292. 1514 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 191.
Tva pikkis ane mell twa weggis 1515 Treas. Acc. V. 25.
Irne pikkis for the hewing and making of gun stanyis 1517 Ib. 154. 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 28.
For steill and laying of the said twa pikkis 1608 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I. 51 b.
For xxxvj new pickis … xj sleggallis and three grit kavell mellis 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 373.
To the quarieris … for schairping of thair pickes and rowing of thair wages 1698 Foulis Acc. Bk. 234.
For 90 picks … and 57 wadges rowing 1696–1700 Wauchopes 35.
A wife for carieing the picks too and fra the smiddie 15 dayes £3(2) 1671 Inverness Rec. II. 246.
Castelhill and Baillie Robertson ar appoynted to caus prowyd eichteine pick by buying of tham or causeing mack them be workmen(3) 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 24, etc.
For vii poyntis of pikkis sharpyng 1678 Fawside Coal Compt 30.
John Waite picks sharpeing [13/4] 1679 Ib. 50.
For six picks layeingsing. 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 3.
For mendyn of a pyk 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 516.
Werkmen with pyk schule and spaid 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 144. 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 93.
Ane newe pik with the chaft 1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 137.
Ane litill pik 1606 Edinb. Test. XLI. 179.
Ane hamber and ane pick(b) 1640 Fam. Innes 166.
Pekis(c) c1500 Makc. MS. xiii. 53.
Hec marra, a peik 1684 Glamis Bk. Record 34.
The utter court beat doune by the force of quarry mells and peiks to render it accessableattrib. and comb. 1674 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 16 May.
Pick chafts 1684 Fawside Coal Compt 122.
For picke sharpeing [£00/10/00] 1685 Ib. 153.
For picke shafting

d. As the second element in a compound: see Miln n. 1 c (3) and Quarrel(l-pik n.

e. ? A spike or spike-nail. — 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 2.
For 200 peick at 9 s. the 100

2. A thorn; a prickle. = Pik(e n.¹ a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xl. 46.
Sen peircing pyks ar kyndlie with the rosefig. 1574–5 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 20.
Scho had sic ane pyk on her conscience that [etc.] a1605 Montg. Son. xlviii. 7.