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.
‡MANK, v., adj., n. Also manck; mankie; munk. [mɑŋk]
I. v. 1. To spoil, to mutilate, to deface, cut too short (Cld. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1903 E.D.D., munk). Ppl.adj. mankit, defective, corrupt, cut awry, mangled (Abd., Edb. 1962); worn out, exhausted (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1962; (Edb., Ayr. 2000s). Sc. 1710 Answer to Mr J. Hog 50:
Its mancking and confounding of Holy Scripture especially in its Collects.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
To mank claith, to mis-shape it, to cut it so as to make it too little for the purpose in view.Edb. 1814 J. Monro Carmen Caled. Musae 30:
Suppose we cou'd the length of Luna gaung, Fell goblins by the way wad mank the spang.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 26:
Tammy kent his mankit sang, Tho' timmer, hadna been ower lang. Edb. 1989:
Johnnie's manked his new bike. That bike's manked.
†2. To fail, to fall short (Abd., Kcd. 1825 Jam., mank(ie)); of the moon: to pale, to fade. Liter.Abd. 1737 Caled. Mag. (1788) 500:
To mell wi' twa he wadna mank, At staffy-nevel Job.Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ ii. v. 60:
Ye'll mank alluterlie an ye pit a vailye upon ocht temporal.Sc. 1933 W. Soutar Seeds in the Wind 32:
Noo that the cock begins tae craw An' mankit is the müne.
†II. adj. 1. Deficient, defective, incomplete.Sc. 1700 R. Wodrow Early Letters (S.H.S.) 84:
I have nou procured that old copy of Knoxes history. . . . Its mank at the beginning and at the end having noe further then the beginning of the 4. Book.Sc. 1723 in R. McWard Contendings xii.:
Mr. Wodrow in his large, but mank and partial History, hath given the world to believe, that these who disowned those tyrants authority . . . were not Presbyterians.
2. Of persons: at a loss, nonplussed.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
He looked very mank.
†III. n. 1. A deficiency, a want, a lack (Sc. 1818 Sawers).Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 81:
In their Maws there was nae Mank.Sc. 1812 The Scotchman 29:
Outher thare's a mank in't, an it disna let you ken what's in the beuk as it sould do; or als there's cheitrie in't.
2. A moment's uncertainty, a hesitation; a pother, fuss, a to-do.Lnk. 1808 W. Watson Poems 17:
But at the coupers' greedy crack They mak' an unco mank.Edb. 1822 R. Wilson Poems 44:
Lays on wi' vengeance but a mank, Till mouth an' nose rin gore.Lnk. 1853 W. Watson Poems 15:
They're special creatures [horses] every ane, An' mak' nae mank about the din.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Dinna make a mank aboot it.
3. Dim. A child's peg-top which has fallen short of its mark and remains in the ring (Sc. 1825 Jam.).
[O.Sc. mank, to maim, mutilate, c.1420, a flaw, want, c.1500, mutilated, defective, 1513, O.Fr. manc, adj., id., Fr. manquer, to lack, to be wanting, manque, a lack, Lat. mancus, maimed.]
