Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1714-1721, 1791-1897, 1987-1999
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MAKE, n. Also mai(c)k(e); ma(a)k; ¶meke. [mek; ne.Sc. mɑk]
1. An equal, peer, like (I. and ne.Sc., Ags., Per. 1962; Ayr., Dmf. 2000s). Hence deriv. maikless, matchless, without equal (Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems I. Gl.).ne.Sc. 1714 R. Smith Poems 85:
His Maik is not in all Braemar, He's neither gaady, wood nor scar.Sc. 1717 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 20:
She has na left her Make behind her.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 55:
Thy sonsy maik's nae ilka whare.Dmb. 1827 W. Taylor Poems 110:
Now the brag o' a' the lan', Its maik ye winna see.Bwk. 1856 G. Henderson Pop. Rhymes 46:
Ilka bannock had its make But the bannock o' Tollishill.Mry. 1865 W. H. L. Tester Poems 161:
Gin we lose you, We'll never get yer mak again.Knr. 1886 H. Haliburton Horace 7:
A bonnie lever, capp'd an' jew'ld, Perth never saw the mak' o't.e.Lth. 1895 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 32:
There wasna his maik at waddins an' kirsenins.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (14 Aug.):
Dey wir niver a cake 'at haedna a maik.Abd. 1993:
He hidna a maak for coontin faist. Dundee 1996 Matthew Fitt Pure Radge 9:
an wi a glower o pure smeddum
blooters hit richt
back intil
the thrawn, raivelt, maikless gemm em.Sc. 1999 James Robertson The Day O Judgement 31:
His conduct ayewis be yer steerer,
His maikless life afore yer een
†2. A companion, mate, fellow; husband, wife. Poet. Phr. to be maiks, to be comrades, to stand together.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 114:
When honour'd Burchet and his Maikes are pleas'd.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 136:
Sair dung be he that bisna maiks, For Scotland's right.Sc. c.1825 Tam Lin in Child Ballads (1956) I. 347:
But hold me fast, let me not go, I'll be your earthly maick.Bnff. 1885 Banffshire Jnl. (29 Sept.) 2:
Lord Huntly . . . saw mony a meke and mither's son set fire to Auchindoun.Lnk. 1888 J. Nicholson Tibbie's Garland 157:
When oot I stots at e'en to meet the lass that noo's my maik.Abd. 1987 Sheena Blackhall in Joy Hendry Chapman 49 56:
War he a stag, she'd ben, the hummel doe ... A springtime snawdrop, derkened b' an aik
She's spukken for langsyne - yet, incomplete
His sun's her pleisure, mindin on his maik
Is pure delicht, her trimmlin sap replete.
3. An image, a likeness.Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 101:
They made wee maiks oot o' clay or butter of them that had thortered them, stappin' the maiks fu o' preens and pappin' elf-shots at their heids wi' ill words and curses forbye.
