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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

EIK, Eek, v.2 To stir, lit. and fig.,  to urge on, incite; to bribe (Cai. 1934). Gen. with up, sometimes with on (Abd.27 1950). Also eke. [ik]Abd. 1828 “J. Ruddiman” Tales and Sk. 216:
I was persuaded to send for the Doctor, and was eked up to think, that he would do great things, but he came and just looked at the woman.
Abd. 1847 G. Rust Poems 21:
Says John, eke the fire up till I boil some beer, To gie to my horses that toil for our gear.
Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xix.:
I'm seer . . . that they had eikit 'im up till as muckle mischief aboot this kirk wark's they cud.
Abd. 1924 J. Coutts in Swatches 64:
Fine he kens fa eekit “Collie”, kickin up a fearfu row.

[From Eik, v.1, esp. in the sense of supplementing a deficiency, with semantic influence from Egg, v.]

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