A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Queke, Queik, adj. Also: quek, queike, queyk. [Normal Sc. var. of Quik adj. with early lengthening of ĭ > : in inflected forms (ME cwike, OE cwica etc.: see Quik adj.).] Living, alive, animate, etc. = Quik adj. in various applications.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iv 275.
And til He quek was, thou wald nocht Beleve 1540 Misc. Hist. Soc. X 49.
Queyk lepronis —1667 Argyle-Lauderdale Lett. 68.
My wiffe hath been very neare miscarriing of queke child(2) a1400 Leg. S. x 237.
That thu Thi sone queke se thu ma Ib. xvii 122.
Quek a1538 Abell 9b.
Quharfore sche wes eirdit queyk 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 15.
Byrnand thair houssis, wyfis and bairnes queik(3) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 590.
& syne how his wyfe & his barne had tynt the lyfe & quhow he lewit tham one a hil bathe quek & ded(4) a1400 Leg. S. vii 185.
The quek & ded bath to deme On domysday c1510 Prester John 311.
Be him quhilk is till iuge bath queik & deid(5) 1549 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. XII 140.
Ony queik gudds nolt or sheip 1582 Laing Chart. 258.(6) 1583 Sempill Warning xi 2.
Of martiall spreit and pregnant queik ingyne(7) c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 326/26.
Now queike faith in his hart, ande lywely mowyng of the spret, dryffis him
