Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CARECAKE, CAR-, Carr-, Caur-, Kercaik, -cake, n. “A kind of small cake baked with eggs, and eaten on Fastern's een [Shrove Tuesday] in different parts of Sc.” (Sc. 1825 Jam.2, carecake; Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry, Gl., ker-caik); “cakes made of eggs and oatmeal” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 125, carrcakes). Arch. [′kɑ(:)rkek, ′ke(:)rkek, ′kɛrkek Sc., but m.Sc. + ′kǫ(:)rkek]Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary (1818) xxvi.:
The dame was still busy broiling car-cakes on the girdle.Ags. 1808 Jam. s.v. Care Sonday:
The bread called carcakes, still used by the vulgar in Ang[us].Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 26:
Weel do I mind how she would gie me caurcakes and black-puddin's.Slk. a.1835 Hogg Tales, etc. (1837) VI. 90:
The deil sal bake me into a ker-cake to gust his gab wi', afore I see that saucy tike ta'en off in sic a way.
