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.
HOCKEN, adj., n. Also hok(k)en, hacken(ed), †hockne, and deriv. †hokni.
I. adj. Ravenous, very eager for food, voracious (Sh. 1825 Jam., 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw., hacken(ed); Sh. 1957).Sh. 1898 Shetland News (20 Aug.):
Yon hokken lipper o' a dug o' Arty's is begun to sloom aboot da door agen.Sh. 1948 New Shetlander No. 8. 9:
Eppie stated that she regarded him as a “hocken bruit”.Sh.10 1957:
It's ill fur a hungry man to hae a hocken hund.
II. n., in deriv. form. A greedy, voracious person or animal (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), hokni).
[Norw. dial. hœken, greedy, voracious, O.N. hakka, to eat ravenously.]
