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 rek, rak, interrog. phr. Also: what and reck(e, reak, rack(e; quhatt-, quattra(c)k, quhatraik. [Quhat adj. 10 a; Rek n.¹ 2. Only Sc.; also in the later dial. as whatreck etc. (Cf. also Quhat reckisinterrog. phr.)] What matter? What does it matter? No matter. It does not matter. It is of no consequence. Variously const. Also b. with concessive clause or infin. as compl. = Why not?(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) lii [C] 30.
Thocht a man haif a brokin bak, Haif he a gude tailȝour, quhattrak [M. quhat rak]? 1540 Lynd. Sat. 742 (B).
Dissait: A freir! quhairto? thow can not preiche. Flattry: Quhattrak bot I can flatter and fleiche [Ch. Quhat rak man I can richt weill fleich] a1568 Bann. MS 144a/26.
‘Wer nocht for fyling of ȝour clayis.' ‘Quhat rek?’ q scho, ‘I am weill cled, Ȝe ar our red for windil strayis' a1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvii 87.
Bot, quhen the court cumis to the toun, quhat reck? We sall restoir thame to thair stok agane a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1359 (Wr.).
Though it be cumbersome, what recke? 1603 Philotus 105.
Thocht he be auld, my joy, quhat reck? Quhen he is gane giue him ane geck Ib. 223, 501. c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis fol. 8b.
Quhat rak 1662 Soc. Ant. XXII 220.
The said Henry said, … ‘What reak, it matters not, go in with me and get an snuff’(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) lxxi 22.
Thay do no mis bot gif thay kis [etc.] … Quhat rek of this? Thair mater is Brocht to conclusioun 1540 Lynd. Sat. 210 (B).
Quhatraik [Ch. quhat rak] of ȝour prosperetie Gif ȝe want Sensualitie? Ib. 3292.
The Merss sowld fynd me beif & caill, Quhattrak [Ch. quhat rak] of breid? a1568 Bann. MS 163a/10.
Quattrack Lord of that for anis mon I die 1590 St. A. Kirk S. 674.
Quha ansuerit, ‘I haif nather womanis milk nor kowis milk to gif it … ' Than Elene said, ‘Quhat rak of that?’ 1609 Crim. Trials III 47.
‘My lord will ȝe ryid away and leif this bludie theif behind ȝou?' Then the lord [sc. Maxwell] ansuerit, ‘Quhat rak of him? For the vther hes anewche’ 1622 in Calderwood VII 564.
What racke(3) 1578 Waus Corr. 196.
Bot al this is na mater, quhat rek of the saying of it? 1587-99 Hume 81/42.
Quhat rack what befall vnto thee a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1272.
Quhat rak quhat ye say ye sall not be trowitb. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 544.
Quhatraik [Ch. quhat rak] thocht ȝe and I Go ione our iusting lwmes? 1603 Philotus 247.
Quhat reck to tak the bogill-bo My bonie burd for anis?