Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

CAUKER, CAWKER, CAKER, n.⁴ [′kɑ:kər ne.Sc., sn.Sc.; ′kekər Abd., Fif.]

1. A stroke on the palm of the hand from a strap (Abd.¹⁹, Ags.¹, Fif.¹⁰ 1938; Slg. 1916 T.S.D.C. II., cauker s.v. caker); “in use amongst Aberdeen schoolboys about 1890” (Abd.¹⁶ 1934).Ags.⁷ 1935:
Two urchins were passing me when one of them said: “I got twa cakers on aither hand.”Fif. 1909 Colville 104:
Thirty years ago to every boy in East Fife correction by the time-honoured taws was known under the name of pawmies. . . . Nowadays in East Fife pawmie has given place to caker, an incomer from Dundee.

2. A difficult question; a poser.Mry.¹ 1925:
That's a cawker for ye!