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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Walkin, Wakin, Waikin, v. Also: walkyn, -en, -ine, walcan, walkn-, valkin, -yne, -en, valkn-, ualken, wakyn, -n(e, wakn-, vakn-, waikyn, -en, waikn-, waykn-, vaiken, waukin, wacken, wackn-. [ME and e.m.E. waccn- (Orm), waken (a1225), wacken (Cursor M.), wakne (c1300), wakkin (a1352), OE wæcnan, ON vakna.]

1. a. intr.To wake up from sleep, to awaken.pres. c1420 Wynt. iv 1161 h. of ch. (W).
Wakin 1456 Hay II 6/36.
The squier began to wakyn of his slepe a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1297 (Asl.).
Walkyn of thi dreme and but delay the dres 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 207.
Heir sall the gudman walkin and cry for Bessy 1551 Hamilton Cat. 122.
Quhen thow sleipis, lat thame keip thé, and quhen thow walknys, speik with thame 1562-3 Winȝet I 6/17.
O mercyful God, quhat deidly sleip … hes oppressit ȝow, that … ȝe walkin nocht furth of ȝour dreme? 1600-1610 Melvill 252.
Wackens a1651 Calderwood VII 187.
Walkening out of his sleepe about nyne hours at nightp.t. 1375 Barb. vii 212.
He waknyt [C. valknyt] & rais a1400 Leg. S. xxxix 365.
Waknit c1420 Wynt. iv 1167 (C).
The Romanys suddandly Wayknyt qwhar thai slepande lay 1460 Hay Alex. 91.
Walknit a1500 Rauf C. 280.
Than walkinnit thay baith and hard he was thair 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 2090.
Out of my swoun I walknit quhair I lay a1570-86 Dunb. in Maitl. F. 234/139.
The erde did trymmill quhair I lay Quhairthrow I waiknit 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 116 (Sm.).
Wythin my bed I waikynnit a1578 Pitsc. I 394/1.
The king walknit out of his sleip 1591-2 Rob Stene 23.
Walkint c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxi 14.
I dreamit ane dreame [etc.] … 'Mercy, madame,' me thocht I menit to say, Bot quhen I walkennit, alace, sche was away 1605 Crim. Trials II 479.
Quha sleipit a tua dayis altogidder and walknit nochtp.p. a1400 Leg. S. v 87.
Scho had Vaknyt of slepe a1400 Leg. S. xvi 282.
Quhene the laydy waknyt vas, The visione scho durste nocht tell 1533 Boece 49b.
Britouns skantlie weill walkynnyt fra slepe 1596 Dalr. I 323/17.
Thay find the king now walknet, quhome thay thocht to haue fund sound sleiping

b. tr.To rouse from sleep or unconsciousness. Also proverb.(a) 1375 Barb. (1571) vi 104 (see (b) below). ?1438 Alex. i 2649.
He recouerit sone … Courage him walknit [F. revint] c1475 Wall. xi 1002.
Thai bad this cuk, that he suld wache … And walkyn Wallace, com men fra ony art a1500 K. Hart 381.
The quene is walknit with ane felloun fray 1494 Loutfut MS 22a.
Gif he slepis that the stane suld fall and walkin the lawe c1500 Fyve Bestes 207.
At the first cok walkinnit sall ye be 1567 Crim. Trials I i 499.
[They] walkynit John Galloway, portar, quham thai gart cum down and opin the ȝet 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 538.
The horrible crak … walkynnet the maist part of the inhabitantis 1558-66 Knox II 355.
He could not be walkened before it was ten houres a1585 Maitl. Q. 105/56.
Gif that neid to slumber me constraine … Vnrest dois walkin me againe 1600 Elgin Rec. II 82.
For the halding the peopill valking the tym of preaching it is appointed that ilk ane valkin another 1614 Melvill lxi.
On his wakning, [he says ‘Goe walken] the laird’ c1650 Spalding I 18.
[He] … walkint him to rys; and as he is walkning him [etc.](b) 1375 Barb. vi 103.
He wald nocht wakyn [1571 walkyn] his menȝe 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2352.
Becaus I saw ȝow weill on rest, to wakin ȝow I thocht it not the best 1576 Orkney Oppress. 80.
Wakint 1616 Spottiswoode Misc. II 288.
John Tenendon … to have his red staff in the kirk on the Sabbath-days, therewith to waken sleepers(c) 1571 Bann. Memor. 107.
The watche … cryed and waikened [Bann. Trans. 125, wacknet] the placeproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 514.
It is ill to wakin sleeping dogs

2. transf.a. To rouse, stir up (a person, etc.) (to do something). Also intr.a. a1500 Quare Jel. 12.
He makith euery lusty hert Out of thair sleuth to walkyn 1456 Hay I 166/33.
The men that I led with me to wakyn ȝow to do me resoun 1490 Irland Mir. III 60/1.
Bodely payn walknys the saule to consider the peral it is in c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxxiv 46.
Sum spark of licht and spiritualitie Walkins my witt 1533 Boece 138b.
He dantit the truble of certane brokin men walkynnyt be myscheant goverment of Dardan 1562 Knox Ressoning 187.
It hath the strength to move and walken … the reprobate 1567 G. Ball. 141.
Thir tyrannis waiknis me with wa 1570 Misc. Bann. C. I 49*.
This will walkin [Misc. Bann. C. I 42, waikin, Bann. Memor. 8, waukin] vtheris to pance meir deiplie upoun the mater 1571 Ferg. Serm. iii Malachi Sig. B i b.
The prophet first trauellis to walkin vp thir pepill from this wickit perswasioun a1585 Arbuthnot in Maitl. Q. 130/124.
To walkin thame in thair vocatioun 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 138/11.
The tempillis … aucht to be decored vith greit magnificence … to excitate and valkin our dull nature 1589 Lett. Jas. VI to Bruce 280.
Ualken 1600-1610 Melvill 609.
Quhen they haiff weyit this matter … [they] wilbe waiknit and moveit to remember thair oathe 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 328.
The soul that is filled with consolation hath no need of it [sc. the promise of God's mercy], and the soul that is … not wakened, cannot apply it 1627 Aberd. Council Lett. I 264.
For wakning and advertesing these pairtis of the cuntrie which ar remot from the cost c1650 Spalding II 157.
Now his majestie beginnis to walkin, and is fast drawing to ane heid [marg. his maiesty fallis to wark]intr. a1500 Quare Jel. 12.
The sonne … makith euery lusty hert Out of thair sleuth to walkyn and astert a1570-86 Maitl. F. 209/74.
Than sall grace grow on thy ground And welth vp walking 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. Pray. 1.
I mot walkin, & lift my eies to ȝow 1611 Calderwood VII 149.
When it [sc. the conscience] sall walken

b. tr.To cause to come into being, arouse, stir or raise up (a state of mind or affairs). a1500 Lanc. 8.
[Phoebus] his goldine stremis sent … One euery thing to valkyne thar curage c1475 Wall. vii 185.
He [sc. Saturn] waknys wer 1490 Irland Mir. III 64/18.
Ardent cherite walknyt and helpit be … payn … clengis the saule 1533 Boece 187b.
He dantit nychtboure feid, gif ony was walkynnyt 1549 Lamb Resonyng 53/21.
Quhy sould he now, … walkin besines a contra his vncle 1558-66 Knox II 327.
So shall that purpose evanise and dye by the self, onles that ye waiken it 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 275.
The more pithie the objects be, the more our faith is wakened and confirmed 1596 Dalr. II 460/25.
Suld … agane be the raiser of a newe bleise, and wakne vp a new flame 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX 59.
For that caus sould haif walkynnit and steirit up in him some sense … of his errouris 1620 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. ix 41.
A … desyre to walkine and renew the auld troubles a1651 Calderwood VII 197.
Unwilling was he … to suffer anie … to walken his conscience 1687 Conv. Burghs IV 72.
That shall happen to be present when any … such project shall be walkned to assist … in the said matter

3. To revive (a legal process) after a period during which it has not been pursued. Also absol. and intr. Also const. up. 1558–9 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 83.
That the caus hes slepit sensyn, quhairfor the protestatioun … is nul and na ferthir proces can be had … quhill the caus be walknit 1560 Misc. Maitl. C. III 234.
The cause … suscitate and newlie walkynnet 1564 Perth B. Ct. 53 (10 April).
Ordanis the actioun … Tobe walknit and procedit quhair it left this day aucht dayis conforme to the desire of the last terme 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 11.
All heirschippis crymes slauchteris … dischargeit and tane away be this present compromit salbe agane walkynnit and restorit c1575 Balfour Pract. 408.
Gif baith the principal cause and actioun of warrandice at ony time sleipit, or was continuit, and baith the saidis parties wer not lauchfullie warnit to heir the matter walknit, and ressave farder proces [etc.] 1581 Acts III 230/2.
Neuir … to persew and walkin the samyn in tyme cuming 1585 Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 25.
That all those matters that war in dealing before, … may of-new be walkened up and perfyted 1590–1 Burntisland B. Ct. 5 March.
Walcanit 1598 Edinb. B. Rec. V 230.
That the difference betuix the toun and the Cannogaitt be walknet and prosequutt be law 1599 Conv. Burghs II 47.
The … brugh to walkin the saidis suspensiouns and follow furth the samyn 1618 Trial Isobel Inch 3.
The forsaid proces and acton of slander … was of new wacknit 1625 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 9 Nov.
Walkent 1626 Ellon Par. 71.
Waukin 1629 Dundonald Par. Rec. 291.
Walkened 1660 Rothesay B. Rec. 55.
Vaikenit 1666 Glasgow Chart. II 118.
To have heard and seine the samen walkened, called, and discussed 1681 Stair Inst. ii ix § 43.
The process being once intended, it continues … except such as are not wakened every five yearsabsol. 1558–9 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 83.
The quhilk day in the terme walknit literatorie to Martyn Vanholfin to heir sentence gevin in the actioun and caus persewit aganis him 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 278.
The quhilk day in the terme walknit literatorie to proceid quhair it left in the actioun and caus persewit be Robert Lawsone 1589 Burntisland B. Ct. 20 June.
In the actione … persewit be Henry Orrok … anent the terme walcanit to heir the mater begine quhair it left … compeirit the persewarintr. 1576 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 247.
[The defender is summoned to hear and see the action] walkin and begyn quhair it left 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Dissolution.
Ȝit after the ende thereof, the annexation dois quicken, revieue, and walken as it were, out of sleep

b. tr., transf.To raise (a question or matter) more generally. 1586 Cal. Sc. P. VIII 564.
[It lying as a thing unperceived and dead these nine or ten years past. Has divers times] walkened [the same to her Council in France] a1646 Wedderburn Voc. (1709) 30.
Affer quæstionem, waken a question 1650 Stirling Ant. IV 154.
She never complained to the session of sclander … till the session begud to waken it themselves

4. To watch, guard. a1500 Rauf C. 275.
Wachis and wardroparis all war away, That war wont for to walkin mony worthy 1535 Stewart 42860.
This ilk Angus in Quhiterne than tuke girth, Quhair he wes walknit all tyme round about, That be no way that tyme he mycht wyn out