Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HARK, v.1, n. Sc. usages. The form herk is also occas. found (Slk. 1813 Hogg Queen's Wake 178; Lnk. 1923 G. Rae 'Mang Lowland Hills 80). [Sc. hɑrk, s.Sc. hærk]
I. v., tr. and intr. 1. To listen (to), hearken. Gen.Sc. Now arch., dial. or poet. in Eng.Ayr. 1786 Burns Vision v.:
Had I to guid advice but harkit, I might, by this, hae led a market.Ags. 1834 A. Smart Rambling Rhymes 118:
To his master's council harkit, An' wagged his tail.Abd. 1839 A. Walker De'il at Baldarroch 30:
How oft hae ye been fain to hark The poet's lays.Gsw. 1879 A. G. Murdoch Rhymes 51:
Thanks to his “bonnet,” what he said Was aye by or'nar harkit.Lth. 1920 A. Dodds Songs 28:
And never yin wad venture in, Bit ey they watched and harket.
Hence h(e)arker, (1) a listener, eavesdropper; ¶(2) in pl. = the ears.(1) Sc. 1825 Jam.:
Harkers never heard a gude word of themselves.Fif. 1898 S. Tytler Mrs Carmichael's Goddesses x.:
It is . . . a temptation to hearkers — if there be a hearker in the yard.(2) Bwk. 1823 A. Hewit Poems 85:
Gif I had time I wad her harkers pu'.
2. To whisper (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 197; I.Sc., n.Sc., Ags. 1956). Vbl.n. harkin, whispering (Sh. 1897 Shetland News (29 May)).Edb. 1720 A. Pennecuik Helicon 78:
He said to me, its bawdy, I had best hark it, Lend me your Lug, Giles, and I'll round it in.Abd. 1746 W. Forbes Dominie Deposed lii.:
Then whisp'ring low to me she harked.Fif. 1806 A. Douglas Poems 51:
Tho' I hark it in your lug, Ye need na tak' offence.Rxb. 1821 A. Scott Poems 22:
Wat stowlins harks in Lizzie's lug.Dmf. 1873 A. C. Gibson Folk Speech Cmb. 116:
But first the lassie low I herkit, “I'll come again?” was what I said.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 12:
The young lethy wus aye harkin tae him.Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sk. and Poems 82:
Peerie Aandrew harkit somethin' ta Liza, bit I didna catch it.Abd.27 1930:
I harkit intil his lug.
II. n. A whisper (Sh., Cai., Abd. 1956); fig. “a secret wish or desire” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.).Kcb. 1814 W. Nicholson Tales 242:
Whan, to crown a' his hopes in a hurry, She ha'flins said aye in a hark.Slk. 1820 Hogg Winter Ev. Tales II. 207:
Take heart till I tell you the hark of my mind.Cai. 1916 J. Mowat Proverbs 5:
“A hark in Hoy heard in Greenland” is said of a secret told in such a whisper that it is heard all around.
