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.
HICK, v.2, n.2 Also freq. forms hik(e)r (Jak.), heek(er), heeger. [hɪk, hik]
I. v. 1. To delay, hesitate (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Dmf., Rxb. 1957); to waver, procrastinate; to haggle in bargaining, to chaffer (Fif., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Dmf., Rxb. 1957); to refuse to work or budge, to jib, as a horse, to slack (Fif. 1957, heek). Agent n. hicker, a jibbing horse (Ib.).Gsw. 1860 J. Young Poorhouse Lays 181:
Nae won'er Britain hicks an' hankers — 'Tween drainin' wars and swin'lin' bankers.Bwk. 1863 A. Steel Poems 50:
Though his opinion rather odd To some appear — Yet never hick, till at your nod The devils fear.Sh. 1951 New Shetlander No. 27. 6:
A peerie aald kraa wis sittin heegrin an flaachterin apo a crub-daek ae kaald voar day, whin by flees a muckle black korbie.
2. To hesitate in speaking (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.; ‡Bnff., Abd. 1957). Phr. to hick and hum, to hum and haw, to dither (m.Lth.1 1957).Sc.(E) 1868 D. M. Ogilvy Willie Wabster (1873) 13–14:
The gowk wud gowl, and goup, and gab, Wud hyke and hick, and habbernab.Bnff. 1933 M. Symon Deveron Days 38:
As he hicks an' mants: “H'm! Fiech — It's wait — I'll need to spell.”
II. n. 1. A hesitation (in speech) (Dmf. 1957).Clc. 1850 J. Crawford Doric Lays 52:
Tho' mony hicks an' hums Ye've war'd owre poortith's antrin dauds.
2. In phr. to gie (somebody) hick and tarry, to make (someone) pause or desist, to give (one) a drubbing (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 79).
[Cf. Norw. dial. hika, to delay, to grope for a word, Sw. dial. hikra, to stammer. Of same ultimate orig. as Hick, n.1, v.1]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Hick v.2, n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hick_v2_n2>
