Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HECKLE, v.2, n.4 Also hek(e)l, heg(e)l (Jak.).
I. v. To walk with a stoop or unsteadily and jerkily as if on crutches, to hop on one leg (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1956); to hobble.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 9:
Oot o dis wi dee! Hent disell!! Heckle noo! Flitt.
Vbl.n. heckling, in dancing (see quot.). Sh. 1964 J. & T. Flett Trad. Dancing 223:
Another lady . . . confirmed the continuous reel of four and the hopping step, and told us that the local term for the latter was "heckling".
II. n. A crutch (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[Freq. dim. form of Heck, n.2, v.2, q.v.]
