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.
HASK, adj., n.1, v. Also haisk.
I. adj. †1. Harsh, rigorous, rough.Bwk. 1876 W. Brockie Confessional 194:
[He] swure an aith eneuch ane's bluid to chill; It was in a tone baith hersh and hask.
2. Of touch and taste: hard, dry, rough (Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry, Gl.; Bwk., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also in n.Eng. dial.
†3. Of a cough: dry, hoarse (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also found in Eng. dials.
II. n. 1. A husky cough, a clearing of the throat. Cf. v.Dmf. 1912 J. L. Waugh Robbie Doo 26:
“What's wrang noo?” said Nancy, wi a “hask,” for a herrin' bane had tickled her thrapple.
III. v. To give a short, dry cough, to clear the throat noisily, to cough up phlegm (Dmf. 1825 Jam., hask; Slk. Ib., haisk; Ayr. 1902 E.D.D.; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ags., wm.Sc., Dmf., Slk., Uls. 1956). Also current in Nhb. and Chs. dials.Peb. 1838 W. Welsh Poems 25:
They hacket an' they hasket.Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 29:
“‘There's something stuck in my hass.' ‘Hask it up then.'”Sc. 1939 Sc. Educ. Jnl. (27 Oct.) 1105:
Wi' that Dod hecht, and haisk't, and hocht Or he was in a steuch.
