Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
LATEWAKE, n. Also -wa(l)k, -wauk, laitt wak, lait-wak (Edb. 1811 G. Bruce Poems 132). A vigil kept by relatives and friends over a dead body till burial (Sc. 1825 Jam. s.v. like walk). Now only hist. [′letwa:k, -wǫ:k]Sc. 1709 D. Beveridge Culross (1885) II. 53:
The former Acts of councill discharging all persons whatsomever to goe to and frequent laitt waks.Lnk. 1717 Burgh Rec. Lnk. (1893) 295:
Repairing to the houssis of persons deceased and keeping of latewakes.Sc. 1758 Caled. Mercury (14 Oct.):
The Pannel did one Night, at a Late-wake, threaten Mischief to the Mare in question.Ags. 1763 Arbirlot Session Rec. MS. Cashbook (23 Feb.):
To And. Dargie for Candle at the Latewake 2s.Sc. 1769 T. Pennant Tour 92:
The Late-wake is a ceremony used at funerals; the evening after the death of any person, the relations and friends of the deceased meet at the house, attended by bagpipe or fiddle; the nearest of kin, be it wife, son, or daughter, opens a melancholy ball, dancing and greeting; i.e. crying violently at the same time.Abd. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 V. 435:
All those, who attended the late wake of a person, who died of the putrid fever.s.Sc. c.1830 Hist. Bwk. Nat. Club (1916) 56:
Watching the dead is called a Latewake if it is attendance in the evening; if while the sun shines, a Sitting.Per. 1831 Fife Herald (14 April):
She … then lifted an axe over him, and said, “ Stop till you get a blow with this, and we will get a late wake of you.”Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 280:
Faces as serious as gin they waur at a late-walk.
