Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CREEKS, n.pl. Also krik. [kriks]
1. In phr. creeks and corners, nooks and crannies (Sc. 1808 Jam. s.v. crykes; Bnff.2, Abd.2, Abd.9 1940). Cf. Eng. dial. crick and corner (Glo.), cricks and crannies (Nhp.), id. (E.D.D.).
2. “Traps, snares” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.). Jak. (1928) has the sing. form krik, used fig. = “a trap (prop. corner or angle of a fence in which to catch an animal).”
[N.E.D. has creake, cre(e)k(e), = a nook, 1577–1715, and = an artifice, contrivance, c.1386, a.1626, both fig. uses of Eng. creek. It is uncertain, however, whether 2. above is the same word as 1.]
