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.
Quotation dates: 1755, 1811-1920
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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.
