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 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rek, Ra(c)k(e, n.¹ Also: reck(e; reak; raik. [Appar. only Sc. till 1568. Cf. e.m.E. recke (1568), reake (1594); Rek v.]

1. Care, heed, regard.It is … rek, it is a matter for concern or of importance.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2733.
Suppois he [etc.] … suld de For falt of fude thairof thay gif na rak c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus Prol. 75.
Of euill or gude he takis lytill rek [:effect] Id. Seven S. 2707.
Lesings to raine thow takis bot lytill rek(2) c1490 Porteous Noblenes 180/19 (Asl.).
It is na rek nor compt of his lyf that sawis nocht deligence 1535 Stewart 20217.
‘Quhairfoir’ he said ‘it war bot littill rak Gif [etc.](3) a1500 Seven S. 1185.
To tell scho said it dar [? = thar needs] na rak With thi ȝe tak it in effek

2. Quhat rek, What does it matter? etc.: see Quhat-rek interrog. phr.