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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tyk(e, n. Also: tyik, (tyg), tike. [Late ME and e.m.E. tyke (c1400), tike (1575), ON tík bitch, Norw. tik bitch, vixen, ODan. tig, MLG tike bitch.] An ill-bred dog, a mongrel, a cur. Also in fig. context, proverb. and attrib.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2065.
I trou ȝe haue bene tussillit with sum tyke, That garris ȝou ly sa still c1500 Rowll Cursing 226 (B).
Thair eiris lyk ane middin tyk c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 226.
With … all the toun tykis hingand in thy heilis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 238.
Peilit gled … bred of bichis syd, And lyk ane tyk, purspyk c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 101/48.
He stinckett lyk a tyk 1533 Boece 336.
The tratouris war … apoun the gebate hungin nakit with wod tykis in pecis quyk to be rent c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 117.
Na dog durst fra my denner sker me Quhen I was tender with the king. Now euerilk tyke dois me doun thring 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10697.
His flesche furth cassin to the tykis, To be deuorit with doggis vnder dykis 1567 G. Ball. 104.
Outwart lyke scheip … Inwart lyke tykis ȝe byte a1568 Gyre-carling 17.
All the doggis … With all the tykis of Tervey come to c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 203.
Turnand as tykis vnto thair vomatyue 1570 Sat. P. xiii 139.
As houngrie tykis ȝe thristit for his blude 1601 Cal. Sc. P. XIII 898.
The prinslie Lyon on the trymling tyks Bot pischis a1689 Cleland 12.
The three tongu'd tyke a1689 Cleland 87.
This is a most dangerous season, To drive out holes in our hedge dykes, When Babel's foxes, and such tykes, Are endeavouring them to scale 1692 Pitcairne Assembly iii i (1817) 45.
I hunt … the wolves out of Christ's vineyard; I am an old tyke at them(b) 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 89.
Thow, in liknes of ane broun tyik(c) 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 121.
Thair wes … no tike culd thame oretak, So lichtly thay did loup(d) 15.. Bk. Dean Lismore 77.
The biche … cheisis … The folast tygproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1717.
Ye are like the tinclers dog tyke, ye are leath to be out of gude companieattrib. a1585 Polwart Flyt. 820 (T).
Tyk stikker, spewd viccer, pot likker

b. transf. In pejorative use: A low, worthless, vicious person. Also possess. (and attrib.). ?a1501 Aberd. Reg. Sasines I 774.
Talyt tyk haue at thé now! a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 495.
Evill facit messan tyke 1548 J. Patten Exped. Scotl. in Dalyell Fragm. Sc. Hist. (1798) App. iv 60.
[The Scots] stood … bragging, … crying ‘Cum here loundes, cum here tykes, cum here heretykes,’ & such lyke 1564–5 Linlithgow Sheriff Ct. 24 March.
Alexander Bynne … iniurat Williame Brice officiar calland him blerit tyke 1558-66 Knox I 73.
They … us blaspheamis … Sayand, that we are heretikes, And fals, loud, liand, mastif tykes 1581 Burne Disput. 175.
He vas to becum ane odious tyk barking aganis al treuth a1585 Polwart Flyt. 168 (T).
Of thy iust genologie, Tyk, I sall tell the trewth 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 288.
The Lord will not … fash himself perpetuallie … in offering pearls to filthy swine, to tykes, and to dogs c1597 James VI in Salmon Borrowstounness 30.
Uith Goddis grace the Englishe tykis shall be dung doun 1597 Melvill 429.
Fy on the limmer Lindsay … Ah flashar tyke, whom all the land deteasts 1599 Elgin Rec. II 74.
Quhow is this that I can not be quhyt of ane mensworne tyke? 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1751) 87.
Butcher Presbyterian tykes 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 8.
Some hing lugg'd Whig … He'll say to his sel' yon's twa Tory tykespossess. (and attrib.) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 173.
Fy, feyndly front! fy, tykis face c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 235.
Cry grace, tykis [M. tyk] face