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.
†HOWK, n.2 Also houk; heuck, heugh; and pl. form †houcks. A disease affecting the eyes of cattle, primarily a stomach disorder, caused phs. by a bad or insufficient water supply (Ags. 1808 Jam., heuck, heugh, Abd.13 1910). [hʌuk]Abd. 1827 Justiciary Reports (1829) App. 25:
There were four cows, calves, &c. about the place. There was something the matter with one of them . . . heard them saying it was “the houk.”Ayr. 1845 Sc. Farmer (Aug.) 255:
It is called the houcks, and will assuredly prove fatal if no remedy be applied. . . . A white grisly substance, from under the lower eyelash, grows up upon the eye; the cattle become hide-bound, refuse to eat, and their hair stands on end.Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS.:
This green sod wis laid into her sta' wi' the earthy side up for her to lick at, tae haud her ohn taen the howk.
Hence heuck-stane, a block of copper sulphate applied as a cure to the inflamed eyes of cattle so affected (Ags. 1808 Jam.).
[O.Sc. holkis, hoikis, n.pl., an ailment affecting the face or eyes, from 1513, of uncertain origin. Mid.Eng. has holke, a hollow, L.Ger. holke, a small hole, of the same origin as Howk, v., n.1 The forms heuck, heugh, seem to be due to confusion with Heuch, Heuk, n.1]
