Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
ILL-TRICKIT, adj. Also -et, -id; -y. Prone to play tricks, full of mischief, roguish (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Mry. 1925; Sh., Ork., Cai. (-id), ne.Sc., Ags. 1958). Also, by conflation with Ill-contrived, ill-contricket (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 87). Superl. ill-trickitest (Abd. 1913 D. Scott Hum. Sc. Stories 56).Abd. 1739 Caled. Mag. (1788) 502:
The Taylor Hutchin he was there, A curst illtrickit spark.Abd. 1851 W. Anderson Rhymes 51:
An' whiles he wad nab some wild, ill-tricket loun.Ags. 1896 Arbroath Guide (10 Oct.) 3:
Eh! ye ill-trickit vaig, I'll gar ye pay for that.Fif. 1933 J. Ressich Thir Braw Days 54:
Big Jock . . . aye gaed sort o' canny wi' yon yin Sam — an ill-tricket felly.Sh. 1953 New Shetlander No. 35. 8:
Lek da ill trikkit villin dat he wis, he set his heel right on da tap o her toom.Abd. 1981 Christina Forbes Middleton The Dance in the Village 47:
The time I've hid wi this ill-trickit loon
Tae describe it wirds jist fail me
An' whit he did in his wellingtons -
I hardly dare tae tell ye! m.Sc. 1985 William J. Rae in Joy Hendry Chapman 40 18:
The ither owls aa leuched whauniver his name wis heard, and ill-trickit young houlets made up impident sangs aboot him. Sc. 2001 Aberdeen Evening Express 7 May 4:
It's important we realise we are not talking about the 'ill-tricket' loon, whose carry-on can be easily contained by a teacher of sufficient experience and expertise.
We're talking about a tiny but vulnerable minority of children.
