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.
GERROCK, n.1 Also gerrack, -ick, gairach, gerek. A coalfish, Gadus virens, in its first year (Bnff. 1825 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1903 G. Sim Fauna of “Dee” 238, gerrick; Mry., Bnff. 1954). [′gɛrək]Bnff. 1876 S. Smiles Sc. Naturalist 423:
When young, great numbers of them [coal-fish] are occasionally taken in our harbours, in small-meshed nets. They are termed “Gerrocks”.Mry. 1883 F. Sutherland Memories 39:
I bocht twa lines an' twa-three hooks For hangin' gairachs, saeths, an' flooks.ne.Sc. 1953 Evening Dispatch (16 June):
It is the kind of fish you go looking for when you're fed up fishing for gereks at the end of the pier.
