Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Quhat reckis, rakis, Quhattrax, interrog. phr. Also: quhat reickis, reks, rackes; what reks, raikes, whatrax. [Quhat pron. 4 a; Rek v. 6. Only Sc.; also in the later dial. as whatrecks etc. (Cf. also Quhat rekinterrog. phr.., and Quhat pron. 4 a (3).)] What does it matter? It does not matter. b. Why not?= Quhat rekinterrog. phr. Also quhat raikes it, id.(1) a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 892.
Whatrax of the feed, when the friendship dow nought a1599 Rollock Wks. I 346.
Quhat reckis of man in this warld? Quhat reckis of mannis ruine and decay, gif God be glorified a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxviii 43.
Quhat reks then of the reid? Or of the trees vhat reks? The rok remanes a rok indeid, Quhilk nather bouis nor breks(2) a1599 Rollock Wks. I 399.
Quhat reck of words and they want the hart and they have no life - quhat reckis suppois thou spak ane thousand ȝeiris of … glorie, gif [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 740.
Quhat reickis iff they get your pairt of the burdein herein also(3) a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1706) 289.
Whatrax, my jo, I ken your captain(4) 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 518.
What raikes it what life I lead, seeing there is no condemnation to meb. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1540 (B).
Now quhill the king is sound sleipand Quhattrax [Ch. quhat rack] to steill his box 1600 Crim. Trials II 177.
And the king said, ‘Quhat rakis, albeit ȝe tak of your hat!’ 1610 Douglas Corr. 246.
And quhat rackes suppose ye give some of your geir mair nor it is worthe, to put your house in peace and quyetnes