Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
FLECK, v. Sc. usage: of cattle, to develop white patches on the skin, to become variegated, through cross-breeding (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 48). Also flek. Cf. Flake, v.2 [flɛk]ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore 132:
It was accounted unlucky if the sheep on a farm began to bring forth stock of various colours; hence the saying: — “Fin the nout begins t' fleck and gehr, Ye may lat oot the byre mehr and mehr; Fin the sheep begins t' black and brook, Ye may tack in the cot at ilky neuk.”
Hence ppl.adj. fleckit, -et; fleckid (Cai.), flekket (Sh.), black-and-white spotted, pied, dappled, esp. of a cow (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 205; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 246; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh., Ork., Cai., Abd., m.Lth., Arg. 1952). Common in Eng. dial.; also variegated, streaky, of “the bottom of the sea when there are bunches of seaweed growing on it” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.). Combs: †fleckit fever, spotted fever (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.); fleckit whale, the grampus or killer whale (Sh. 1880 E. R. Alston Fauna Scot. 21).Rnf. 1755 in Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) F. 47:
Clippings had a Fleckit Kow which was billed.Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 517:
Some of the gray or common rabbits, without any crossing, produce white, black and fleckit ones.Ayr. a.1846 A. Aitken Poems (1875) 18:
Plenty o' milk frae our auld fleckit cow.Mry. 1887 A. G. Wilken Peter Laing 40:
There war nae grey rabbits roon about Dallas, but there war planty black and fite flecket anes.Ags. 1920 D. H. Edwards Muirside 86:
The “fleckit,” “brocket” and “rigget” cattle afford profitable material for the rumination of gentlemen concerned.
