Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GURK, n. [gʌrk]

1. A stout heavily-built person (Cai., ne.Sc. 1955). Also dim. and deriv. forms gurkie (ne.Sc. 1955), gurkin (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 71), gurkas. Used as a nickname (Abd. 1838 C. Smith Abd. Golfers (1909) 74, gurkie).Abd. 1739 in Caled. Mag. (1788) 503:
A stiblart gurk wi' phiz o' yellow In youthhit's sappy bud.Bnff. 1852 A. Harper Solitary Hours 40:
He was a ferdy, gulschy gurkas, Wi' bowsie legs just like a turkas.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxii.:
A rough-looking “gurk ov a loon” carried the end of the [measuring] chain.Abd. 1890 Bon-Accord (22 March) 20:
A sma' doorie opens, an' in steps a gey stoot gurkie an' sits doon on the deas.Abd. 1917 C. Murray Sough o' War 28:
Ae creeshy gurk that led the lave was bessin' lood an' strang.

Hence gurkie, adj., very thick and short (Bnff. 1880 Jam.).

2. Applied to a child stoutly-built in proportion to his height (Mry. 1813 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. 457); also to young live-stock well-grown and thriving (Ib.).