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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.

Rok, n.¹ Also: roc(k; roke, roik. [ME and e.m.E. roc (c1310), rokke (c1340), MDu. rocke, ON rokkr.]

1. A distaff.Sometimes used as a rod for chastisement, etc., and by witches when casting spells.Also comb. in rock-spun.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 510.
The rok that in hand had I, I kyste away c1420 Wynt. iii 721.
His oys wes mare wytht rok to spyne Than landys to the crowne to wyne a1500 Henr. Fab. 412 (Bann.).
A wedow … Quhilk wan hir fude with spynning on his rock 1513 Doug. vii xiii 58.
Hir womanly handis nothir rok of tre Ne spyndill vsit 1549 Compl. 29 marg.
Sardanapalus … clethit hym in vemens claitis & span on ane roc c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3330.
With spindle and with rock spinnand a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 302/39.
Baythe hen and cok with reill and rok The lairdis Jok all with him takis 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Colus, a rock 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 133/26.
Ane vyf, quha suld be occupeit vith the rok 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 50. 1608 Dundonald Par. Rec. 160.
Faultis delaitit: … Bessie Findlay … to spin on hir rok on the Sabboth 1620 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 246.
Sex roks [arrested in the hands of William Forbes at Mylne of Tolquhone] 1661 Edinb. Test. LXX 167b.
Ane old lint quheill twa reillis and ane rok 1662 Wodrow Hist. (1828) I 320.
The arch was beautifully adorned with several draughts of rocks, reels, and kirk stools 1692 Presb. Eloq. (1694) 65.
Yet a hussie with rock feard him [sc. Peter]comb. 1635 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 510.
Worset ȝairne halff quheill and halff rock spun(2) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1337.
This rok of myne salbe thy recompence a1568 Scott ii 147.
Thocht I had rycht nocht bot a rok To gar ȝour rumpill reik Behynd 1628 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 364.
For stryking of Janet McIlrae … with ane rock and hir neawes(3) 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 190.
Scho is indytit to haiff bevitched Gilbert Makime … with ane spendil, ane rok, and ane forl 1658 Sc. Ant. IX 51.
At the destroying of Coudonis bairns, quhair the diwel, Margret Tailȝeor with ane long rok and Kathren Renny with the short rok … went up the stair togidder(b) 1639 Brechin Presb. 5.
Janet Lovie … confessed that she brak ane roik over ane person long sick, being informed that it suld mak him either ament or die shortlie

b. As a type of extreme thinness. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 105/23.
Schinnis scharp and small lyk rockis 1538 Lynd. Justing 27.
Howbeit thou thinkis my leggis lyke rokkis, My speir is gude 15.. Christis Kirk 38 (M).
His lymmis was lyk twa rokkis

c. fig. and proverb. Tow in (one's own or another's) rok, (to have) something to do, say, be concerned about, etc.; (to have) (other) matters in hand. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 993.
I will have other tow in your rock, nor sit and keme linget 1658 R. Moray Lett. fol. 78.
I must let myself spin out my letters as long as there is a yirn of tow in my rock 1692 Presb. Eloq. (1694) 18.
The Philistines had invaded the land; this gave Saul some other tow in his rock, and by that David was deliver'd

2. A distaff together with the wool or flax attached to it; the quantity of wool or flax placed on a distaff for spinning.In the quot. of 1620, ? with a suggestion of an improper relationship.Also proverb. 15.. Wyf Awcht. 61.
Than hame he ran to an rok of tow, And he satt doun to say the spynning 1620 Perth Kirk S. MS 6 June.
The said Jonat … waild now and than cwm and spyn hir rok in his hous 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 16.
4 or 5 rocks of tow, some tied with red snoods, some with blew Ib.
A rock full of tow Ib. 55.
Ye sall find verie few women beggers … who wants their rock in their bosome, spining very busily as they walk in the streetsproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 214 (see Raiking ppl. adj.).
Roke