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.
LINK, v.2 Dim. form linkie. [Sc. lɪŋk, Fif. + ləiŋk]
1. (1) To move smartly or agilely with short quick steps, to trip along, to walk at a brisk pace (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1923–6 Wilson; Ork. 1929 Marw.; ne.Sc., Per. 1961 ); to move without difficulty, to glide or slip smoothly.Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 22:
The siller comes linkin in, And it is fou fair to see.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 77:
The lasses now are linking what they dow, An' facked never foot, for height nor how.Ayr. 1786 Burns Address to the Deil xxi.:
A certain bardie's rantin, drinkin, Some luckless hour will send him linkin, To your black pit.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 53:
Gloriouslie, the days gaed linkin Like hours away!ne.Sc. 1828 in Child Ballads (1956) V. 18:
The key gied linking in.Lth. 1885 J. Strathesk Blinkbonny 297:
Jamie scrauchled out, he flew past his claes, An' fast to the wood did linkie.Sc. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xviii.:
Man, they didnae stop to fash with me! Ye should have seen them linking for the beach!Sc. 1908 Gsw. Ballad Club III. 169:
Fain to gang linking withoot let Ower Ochil hills!m.Sc. 1917 J. Buchan Poems 70:
And Heavenly byliffs on his track, Gaun linkin' doun some Heavenly shaw.Ags. 1934 H. B. Cruickshank Noran Water 3:
Awa' up Whinny Brae An' Roods links he.
Hence (i) linker, a thin, agile person; (ii) ppl.adj. linkin(g), light of movement, active, nimble, agile, brisk (Fif., Ayr. 1961); (iii) adv. linkingly, in a brisk quick manner.(i) Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 149:
The Linker, edging his word like his body, betwixt the two.(ii) Sc. 1776 in Child Ballads (1956) V. 355:
They ca me The Linking Ladie.Sc. 1817 Scott Rob Roy xxvi.:
A man can whistle ye up a thousand or feifteen hundred linking lads to do his will.Ayr. 1903 G. Cunningham Verse 213:
As he hurries hame at a linkin' pace.Kcb. 1905 Crockett Cherry Ribband xlv.:
For a' his poverty a linkin' lad, wi' a sword as lang as the day and the morn.(iii) Lth. 1885 J. Strathesk Blinkbonny 160:
All at the mess-table went linkingly and loudly through it [a song].
(2) With aff and in phr. to link it, to take oneself off quickly, to “hop it” (Abd., Kcd. 1961).Sc. 1715 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 73:
Maidenheads gae'd linkin Aff a' that day.Abd. 1923 B. R. M'Intosh Scent o' the Broom 12:
I'll link it my lane ower the dew-dabbled heather.
2. To skip, dance lightly or nimbly, to caper (Bnff., Abd. 1961).Sc. 1842 Whistle-Binkie (Ser. 2) 111:
Our lasses linket to the lilt.Abd. 1904 W. Farquhar Fyvie Lintie 60:
Fient ane but happy as could be 'Mang blithe young lasses linkin'.
3. tr. and intr. To act with speed and energy, to work or go at something vigorously, to do a thing with a quick brisk movement, often used in relation to spinning (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai., Abd., Fif. 1961).Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 231:
He disna live that canna link The Glass about.Ayr. 1791 Burns Tam o' Shanter 148–150:
Till ilka carlin swat and reekit, And coost her duddies to the wark, And linket at it in her sark!s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.:
She's linkin' awa' at the wheel.Sc. 1814 C. I. Johnstone Saxon and Gael. I. viii.:
She … linket aff her twa hasps every day.Sh. 1822 S. Hibbert Descr. Sh. 563:
Up wi't, Lightfoot, link it awa, boys; Send for a fiddler, play up Foula reel.Sc. 1824 Scott St Ronan's Well ii.:
They could a' link out their fifty pounds ower head to bigg a hottle.Abd. 1873 P. Buchan Inglismill 33:
Oot ower the Cruives an' up the Ba'muir park He linkit at it, like some blythesome spark.Cai. 1902 J. Horne Canny Countryside 229:
Fan I saw 'is birkie linkin' oot his watchie.
