Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

S(c)hake, S(c)haik, S(c)ha(c)k, v. Also: schaike, schayke, chaik, sheake, shecke. Also erroneous form: schark. P.t. s(c)huk(e; s(c)huik(e; s(c)heuk; schouk, schowk; schuck; s(c)hoke, shook(e, schoak; schake; schakit, shaiked. P.p. s(c)hakin, -ine, -yn, -en; s(c)haikin(g, -en, -ne; schakkin, shauken, shoken, shooken; schake, schaik. Also: schuikand (? Erroneous for schaking, vbl. n. But perhaps for schuik and, with altered beginning of the line. See sense 8 below.)[ME and e.m.E. scæken (Layamon), saken (a1220), scak (Cursor M.), schake(n (c1320). P.t. scok (Cursor M.), schoke (Manning), etc., shakide (Wyclif). P.p. i-shake (a1300), shake (Chaucer), shaken (a1534), etc. OE scacan, p.t. scók, p.p. scacen.]

I. 1. intr. A poetical word for: To go, pass, move. ?1438 Alex. ii 9754.
Quhare the assembleis togidder schuke [F. La ou il s'entr'aprochent] The play vox wery for mony man But lauching losit thare lyues than

II. To vibrate, tremble.

2. Of things normally stable or still: To vibrate irregularly; to tremble, as a result of impact. Hence, to totter, lose stability, become weakened.pres. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 9.
The erd sould trymbill, the firmament sould schaik c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1414. a1585 Maitland Quarto MS 201/14.
The thundring doun of cannounis … maid hevin and erthe to schaik 1600-1610 Melvill 525.p.t. a1400 Legends of the Saints xlii 261.
The erde steryt sa felloun[l]y, That al the cyte in til hy Schuke & to-giddire strake 1513 Doug. ix xii 61.
The erd dyndlyt, and all the cite schuke 1535 Stewart 7194.(b) 1460 Hay Alex. 153.
The erd trimblit and all the housis schoke [: quuke](c) c1500 Makculloch MS iv 58.
Hillis trimlit, erd schowk, rochis claif c1590 J. Stewart 51/108.
Schouk(d) 15.. Clariodus v 2017.
Schuike [ed. schoke] 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 148.
The parpan wall of the hous schuik and trymblit

b. With a complement expressing a resultant situation or condition. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 446.
His bost & brag … Maid all the heuin most lyk to schaik in schonder c1550 Id. Meldrum 156.
Ay till his sword did shaik in sunder 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Eclogues iii 102.
Thair bains ar lyke to schaik sindrie

3. Of persons or beasts, or their limbs: To quake or tremble with infirmity; to quiver with emotion, shiver with cold, quake with fear. a1400 Legends of the Saints xvi 846.
Thane begane his kneis to quake, & al his body for to schake 1513 Doug. i iii 1.
Belive Eneas membris schuk for cald 1513 Ib. v viii 21. 1535 Stewart 22764.
Tha trymlit and tha shuke 1535 Ib. 14916. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 7401. 1572 Satirical Poems xxxiii 78. 1591-2 Rob Stene 3.
The lyoun, with ane awfull brow, Maid every beist to chaik and bow a1599 Rollock Wks. I 335.
Thou sall schaik and trimbill at his countenance 1603 E. Melville Godlie Dreame 316.
My hands did shaik, that I him held withall

b. To stagger or reel in consequence of a blow or violent impact. With and without complement. 1375 Barb. ii 383.
And in the stour sa hardyly He ruschyt that all the semble schuk c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i 404.
Wallas with it fast on the cheik him tuk Wyth so gud will, quhill of his feit he schuk

4. Of things having some freedom of movement: To move irregularly and quickly to and fro, etc.; to quiver, quake, vibrate, waver; also, to be brandished or shaken. 1513 Doug. i vi 16.
In athiris hand yfeir The braid steil heid schuke on the huntyng speir 1513 Ib. ii iii 59.
Down on the grond scho fell, Hyr targe trymlyng, and schakyng fast hir speir 1513 Ib. iii x 33.
Quharthrou the sey and al the fludis schuke 1513 Ib. ii x 120, x ix 39. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 552.
The ledder schuke, he lape, and gat one fall 1535 Stewart 57051.
The schawis trymlit all and schuke a1605 Montg. Misc. P. liv 4.
Ȝeill fart fast in Baquhidder or the corne schaik 1622-6 Bisset II 244/30.
And evill wedder tak theme in sic maner that the taikling schaik

b. To tremble or fall in a shivering manner. Also with doune. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 14.
The perly droppis schake in [M. schuk in to] silvir schouris Quhill all in balme did branch and levis flete c1500-c1512 Id. Tua Mar. W. 515 (Ch. & M.).
Siluer schouris doune schuke as the schene cristall

III. To cause to vibrate, agitate.

5. tr. To brandish or flourish threateningly (a weapon). Also, to flourish, wave (something) in ostentation or triumph. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2958.
The dart he tuke And felly at Vlixes schuke c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 26/36.
Scorne … oft on me his babill schuke 1513 Doug. xii vii 117.
He schuke and branglit fast his speir that tyde 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 6194. 1673 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 188.
When I so did he threatned and abused me with his tungu and shaiked his staffe at me

6. To cause to move irregularly to and fro; to agitate; to toss about. Also with adv. complement.pres. 1456 Hay II 101/2.
[The wind] drownis schippis, schakis cornis … and brekis treis(b) 1513 Doug. iii Prol. 43.
Thocht storm of temptatioun my schip oft schaik, Fra swelth of Sylla [etc.] 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. vi 100.
To schaik the brydle to encourage the horse a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS 288/34.
Thai be bot leavis that wind dois schaik 1688 E. Fife Admir. Depute Ct. Bk. 28 July.
That the person shakeing or treaming other mens netts shall satisfie the pairtie his wholl skaith(c) 1650 Inverurie 306.
Be reason whereof she did gnaw her finger and shack the kist and the crookp.t. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 492.
Thay gaif ane cry, and schuik coppis gude speid 1596 Dalr. I 203/26.
Throuch the tempest of a terrible storme, that sa vehementlie schuke thame 1662 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries XXII 221.
Ȝe said to Isobel Wilson … that the said Henry shuik the sheet well enough yesterday 1696 T. Davidson Rowan Tree (1949) 266.
It [sc. an evil spirit] … shoke men back and forwardp.p. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2394.
His schippis thare That with the tempest schaken war(b) 1513 Doug. i iii heading.
Quhou that Ene was with the tempest schaik And quhou Neptune his navy salvyt fra wraik

b. fig. ? To throw (troops) into disorder or confusion. c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 126.
Cut them in peices … so great was the execution which they made efter the horse had shauken [pr. shanken] and quyt astonished them by perseing rudly throw them

c. To schake (one's) lap, to display scorn or the like. c1665 Analecta Scotica II 91.
And Hamiltowne was but a knave, When he his lap did shake c1679 Ib. 91 n.
At the Lord's Supper he used to shak his lap against them who would break the Covenant

7. To move to and fro irregularly or tremulously; to agitate (some part of the body). a1500 Henr. Age & Yowth 26.
This senȝeour … Schakand his berd, he said, ‘My bairne [etc.]’ c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 113/10.
[The fox] Syne schuk his taill with quhinge and ȝelp 1513 Doug. xiii iv 80.
The snaill Schakand hir coppit schell

b. To schake (one's) head (on or apoun a person), to express disapproval, dissent or doubt.(1) ?1438 Alex. i 2272.
The duke Betys the king hes sene And shuke his heid for proper tene a1500 Henr. Fab. 1388.
Schaikand his heid, he said, ‘My sone, lat be’ a1500 Ib. 2112 (Ch.).
Bot quhat wes ȝone the carll cryit on hie And schuke his heid quhen that he saw thow fell? 1513 Doug. xii xiv 21. 1576 Criminal Trials I ii 57.
And becaus sche refusit, he schuke his heid, and said that he suld caus hir forthink it a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 927 (W). 1591 Criminal Trials I ii 245.
Rychard … declairit thair … that scho [and two others] … sould be thre of the doaris of itt; quhilk quhen scho hard, scho schuik hir heid(2) a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 857.
Thir folk for scorne apoun him schuk thair heid 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 648 (L).
Than all the court on me thayr hedis schuke [: ruke, bruke, quuke; E. schuik]

c. reflex. To move one's body or limbs briskly in order to dispel stiffness after sleeping; to arouse or bestir oneself. 15.. Sym & Bruder 69.
Than Symme rais and schuk him [: luk him, bruk him]

d. To schake (one's) eares. (Cf. OED shake v. 6 c.) 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 114.
Didope … wold haue had the king vpe to the hills [etc.] … bot erre he was awarre, Rob. Montgomeries 2 regiments of horsse appeirs … quherat Buchan, Didope, [etc.] … begane to shecke ther eares, and speake more calmley and in a lower strain

e. To schake (one's) breeches, ? to prepare to depart. a1689 Cleland 32.
Her nain-sell shooke her naked breeches, For she was tyred with his speeches

f. Schayke leg, Schaik a trot, titles of dances.Compl. 66/23, 26.

8. In the phr. to schake handis (togidder or with another person). 1513 Doug. i viii 37.
Thai … langit sair to schaik handys [L. coniungere dextras] 1513 Ib. vi xi 39.
Fader, now grant me by and by, We athir may with other handis schaik [Ruddim. schaike] 1513 Ib. iii ii 28. 1535 Stewart 25248.
He wes sworne … For till forgif … And neuir agane remember of sic thing, In handis schuikand maid gude suithning 1567 Satirical Poems iii 231.
[We] tuik gude nycht and shuik our handis twa 1575 Edinburgh Testaments III 346.
The said Robert askit him forgevynis and sa jonit & schakit handis togidder 1596 Dalr. II 440/28.
With al the rest scho schaikis handes, this way with thame scho … bad adew 1598 St. A. Baxter Bks. 63.
Ordanit … to confes his offence, chaik handis with the said George a1605 Birrel Diary 24. Hist. Kennedy 42.
After they had shoken hands togidder 1642 A Second Discovery by the Northern Scout 14.
If he once shakes hands with any, they had need say their prayers c1650 Spalding I 329.
Where it is to be observit that the puritanes of England and we both had schakkin handis befoir the begining of this warkfig. 1635 Dickson Hebrews 293.
As long as they are yet in the way, and haue not shaken hands with an evill course

9. a. To move (a person) roughly to and fro, with complement, etc. expressing the resultant situation. c1420 Wynt. viii 6980.
Barnys in creddill … on thare speris thai wald … tak, And to thare newys down wald thaim schak a1599 Rollock Wks. I 371 (see 11b below). c1615 Chron. Kings 165.
Francis Mwbray being warditt for allegit tressoune … brak waird and being aschaipit [= espied] be the watsche of the castell thay schaikis him out of the claithis quhilk he wes gangand doune into, quhairby he fallis and slayis him selff be the same

b. Of an animal: To seize (another animal, or some part of one) in its mouth and move it violently to and fro. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1732.
This grewhound … Into his mouth his [sc. the knight's] hors taill wald he tak, About his luggis oft times he wald it schaik. Syne ȝoull and cry 1591-2 Rob Stene 15.
With that he [sc. the wolf] hynt him [sc. the ram] be the throt, And schuke him in his greidy gammis

10. With adv. or phrase: To reduce by shaking to a specified condition. Also fig.(1) ?1438 Alex. i 1580.
Emynedus in the scheild him straik Quhill all in schunders he couth it schaik ?1438 Ib. 3206. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2587. a1500 Id. Bludy Serk 31. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1776.
Scho [sc. the falcon] russillit & rang hir bellis Almaist scho had al schakin thame in schellis 1572 Satirical Poems xxxii 120.
Ha! tressoun vntrew ane tow will schaik in schunder(2) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke vi 38.
Thai sal geue into youre bosum a gude mesure and wele fillit and schakin to giddire and ouerflowing(3) fig. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 186/3.
But the cheif comendation of a poeme is that quhen the uerse sall be shaikin sindrie in prose it sall be founde sa riche … as it sall retaine the lustre of a poeme althoch in prose 1639 Fugitive Poetry II xv 2/4.
He sall … schaik to schivers like a schard The Covenant

b. To schake lows, loose: In senses 7(2), 9 (2) and 10 b (2) of Lows adj.(1) 1633 Orkney Bishopric Court Book in Dalyell Darker Superst. 451.
Ye sat doun and taking of your curtch sheuk [v.r. scheuk] your hair lous, and … shoe … hes nevir bein weill since ye curst hir or sheuk your hair lous(2) 1596 Aberd. Council Lett. I 5.
The bulwarks, peir [etc.] … is now … becum ruynus and decayit and the small remanent bulwark schakin lows 1603 Moysie 80.
The schipis lyand all in Leith read wer schakin lovse(3) 1618 Elphinstone Mun. 199/1.
Gif … blood flow … it will sheake the countreys loose agane

c. reflex. To schake (oneself) loos(e, louse, to free oneself (of (= from) some restraint). c1650 Spalding I 54.
He sould seim to rax him self and schak him self looss of his arme. … Ballindallach … schuke him self looss and wyns the killogie dur 1678 Lauder Notices Affairs I 211.
All their branling is not able to shake themselfes louse of the Act of Sederunt

d. intr. Of a thing: To loosen itself from a fixed position by shaking. 1600-1610 Melvill 253.
And thairwith, be hir tumbling and yeawing, the mast schouk sa louse, that Mr. Robert (the auld man being dammist and machles) haid mikle ado to fasten the sam

11. a. tr. To cause to splinter; to shatter to pieces. ?1438 Alex. i 2444.
The heuy dintis to gif and taik, Scheildis to frushe and shaftis to shaik

b. To cause (a structure, etc.) to vibrate, hence, to impair its stability. Also const. adverbial complement. Also in fig. context. 1513 Doug. ii viii 95.
Oft wyth the ram the port is schaik and duschit 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 23.
The noyes of the fall of the hous quhilk schuik the haill towne 1596 Dalr. II 295/18.
This force shortlie laid to, and … finalie with the gret gunis, al daschet, dung and shaikne a1599 Rollock Wks. I 371.
And thairfoir seing this doctrine is set on sa solide ane foundatioun, quha will schaik it? Schaik it let see off hir foundatioun, and put at it, I will schaik thee and ding thee to hell a1599 Ib. 431.
Sa lang as the Lord hes ado with onie man, he will schaik hevin and eirth or he perische 1600-1610 Melvill 421. 1608 Chron. Perth 12.
Ane earth quak … that schoak the tolboth the battell end, that thair fell many stonis aff it 1618 Glasgow Chart. I ii 300.
The pilleris [sc. of the bridge] … being so schaikin and brugille by the invndatioun … of the watter of Clyde 16.. Dunferm. Ann. 265.
The hail houses in Dunfermling were shooken and furniture thrown doon

c. fig. To weaken (a person with regard to his beliefs, social structure, etc.). Also const. adverbial complement. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxi 159.
He … fel in disputacion With ane erretike, that richt wise Wes in clergy at dewyse, That sa wele schoke the abbot, til [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II 21/22.
For nocht onlie affinitie [etc.] … bot also … prouinces, nationis and breuelie the haill Romane Empyre fra the ground wes schaikin and moueit out of the place 1562-3 Ib. 53/30.
Be sindry tempestuous stormis of thochtis and cuiris ar thai schaiking, strukin, and almaist slane c1590 Fowler I 233/6. 1596 Dalr. I 155/19.
That the effairis of Britannie perise nocht alluterlie, shaikin with sa mony battelis 1596–7 in Melvill 390.
When the Papists ar readie bent to schak and overthrow the kirk and gospell 1669 Laing MSS I 375.
Lord if it be thy will to shaik and dissolve this church government louse wee pray the pins of it softly

12. To dislodge or eject (a thing) by agitating its container or support. a. Const. from, etc., or with adv. down, off, out (of), etc. Also fig. 15.. Dunb. App. vii 3.
The levys are doun schakyn with the schouris 1513 Doug. ii vii 75.
Cassandra Was from the tempill … Drawyn forsabilly bairhed, with hayr down schake 1513 Ib. iv x 99.
Schaik down the salys sone and lat ws wend 1513 Ib. iii i 123, vii vi 142. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 1024.
All hir cannounis sche leit craik of at onis Down schuke the stremaris frome the topcastell 15.. Clariodus iii 446.
Ane messinger … in his drukinnes … Out of his bulgit schuik his letters all 1622 Falkirk Par. Rec. I 35.
Davad Levingstoun … tuk her purs and schuck the money out of it and brunt the said purs c1650 Spalding I 34.
Ane bassein all of gold … quhairin wes schakin out of ane imbroderit purs ane thousand golden double angellisfig. 1564 in Knox VI 540.
For our quene thynkis to have hym [sc. Bothwell] at all tymes redye to schaik out of hir pushet agaynst us Protestantis 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (STS) 85/31.
Thir men … vants thame selfs to haue the Haly Spreit quhome they schaik out of thair sleue at thair plaisure

b. Without complement: To cause (fruit) to fall by shaking the tree. 1603 Dundonald Par. Rec. 41, 42.
John Thomsoun … to haif schaikin fruit … in the Achanis yardis. … denyit he schuk ony bot grantit he pulit sum 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 348.
The said Edward Edȝer did by the wholl fruit in Butill ȝeard … and did shak the said fruit and put them in secks

13. To distribute with a shake. 1616 Orkney Bishopric Court Book in Dalyell Darker Superst. 451.
[She] shuik hir hair about hir luidgis, ran to the Ladie Chappell hard by [etc.]

b. To toss up (in the wind). lit. and fig. 1562-3 Winȝet II 27/20.
And because also that thai schaik vp in the wound with thare cursit handis the memory of euery haly man, as it war the muildis of thame now laid on sleip 1562-3 Ib. 81/4.
As thai wald schaik wp (that I may vse his wordis) the muildis of thame deceisit wnto the wind

14. fig. To cast off (from (fra) oneself), to reject, repudiate (a person). 1562-3 Winȝet II 49/22.
For quha is he quha wald hef schaikin fra him a man of sa grete ingine, of sa greit leirnyng

15. To schake off. a. lit. To cast off or get rid of, to divest oneself of (equipment, garments, etc.) b. fig. To renounce (a duty or obligation). c. fig. To free oneself of (something harmful). d. To cast off or desert (a person). Also to schake of hand.a. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 119 (L).
That god of all his geir he schowk [W. schuik, Wr. shook] And layit it on the groundb. 1565 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæval Plays 154.
Certane seditious personis … hes in thair maner schakine of all debtfull obedience … to … our maiestratis 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 388. 1579 Ib. 208.
Haveing schaikin af the feir of God 1592 Wemyss Corr. 30.
As hes schaiken of thair dewitie and allegeance 1606 in Melvill 721.
Schaik 1610 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 342.
Haveing schaiking off all feir of God 1616 Reg. Privy C. X 575.
Haveing schaikin af his dewtie and alledgeance to his majestie 1630 Justiciary Cases I 144.
The said Alexander Hammiltoun schaiking af all feir of the almychtie and omnipotent God reuerence or regaird of his devyne lawis 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I 376.
He having undertaken the charge upon him can not now shack it aff agane(b) 1594 Colville Lett. 123.
The papist lordis … shalbe bound to schark of all frendschip contrareis to th' amitie and simpillie to follow suche cours as hir majestie shall directc. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 22.
To shake off your lustis and affections, peece and peece, and sa peece and peece renounce thy self 1590-1 Ib. 69. c1590 J. Stewart 114 §4.
Schaik aff despaird. (1) 1571 Satirical Poems xxix 34.
Quhen he listis, he schaks hir of be diuorce or hir wirreis(2) a1585 Arbuthnot Maitland Quarto MS 88/38.
Thay luif maist leill thocht men doe feill And schaikis oft of hand

16. To schake out, to unfurl (a flag, sail) with a shake. Also in fig. context. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 41/23.
The master cryit, boy to the top. Schaik out the flag on the top mast 1562-3 Winȝet II 53/32.
That thai mot lat doun the sailis of thair proud consait, schaikin out to heicht, quhilkis vickitlie thai had dilatit to the windis of noueltie

17. To schake up, to berate. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 42.
And maid him be schakin up with wemenis scalding

IV. 18. comb.In the surname or nickname Schaklok, and the ? contemptuous invented name Schakmaschitache.Shakeloose. (Cf. 10 b above.)(1) c1328 Liber Aberbr. I 339.
Walterus Shakloc 1382 Rot. Sc. II 44/1.
Adam Shaklok mercator de Scotia 1433–8 Misc. Spald. C. V 44.
Andree Johnsoun dict. Schaklok(2) 1631 Elgin Rec. II 220.
Let hir neuer die till scho yeid about lyk Schakmaschitache and Claschmabandoche(3) 1661 Wodrow Hist. I (1828) 122.
That this land shall make the fruit of their loosing from ten years' bondage, a shakeloose of the government of Christ