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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MINK, n.¹, v.¹ Also munk, monk, and dims. minkie (Abd. 1897 Trans. Bch. Field Club IV. 117), munkie. [mɪŋk, mʌŋk]

I. n. 1. A noose, a loop (ne.Sc. 1963). Hence rinnin mink, a slip knot (Mry.¹ 1925; ne.Sc. 1963).Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 5:
Ye'll tak a win'lin, man, an' mak a mink — A lingle lies upo' the benmost bink.Cai. 1875 Trans. Highl. Soc. 226:
The thatch . . . is tied down by ropes made of heath or of straw, with pieces of flags attached to a “mink” at each end, the flags being substituted for pins to hold the ropes tight.Abd. 1933 J. H. Smythe Blethers 16:
B' kinkin' his neck in a mink o' his crauvit, Sae jinkin' the sorras o' life.ne.Sc. 1957 Mearns Leader (24 May):
He wis mairched oot tae the road, a rope wi' a mink — or noose as some ca't — wis pitten roun' his neck, an' in this wye he wis paradit ben the hale veelage.

†2. Specif.: the hangman's noose.Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 10:
And forged ale sellers licences for drink, For which their heads should been put i' the mink.Abd. 1889 Sc. N. & Q. (Ser. 1) II. 141:
The affectionate spouse would accompany her husband and lord to the gibbet, and urge him to put his “heid into the mink an' nae anger the guid laird.”

3. Fig. An entanglement, a trap, a snare, an inextricable position or difficulty (ne.Sc. 1963), e.g. jocularly, of marriage; a state of being held spellbound or fascinated.Abd. 1875 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 135:
A bodie's as wise to keep their heid oot o' the mink as lang's they can.Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Yonderton xii.:
If she gets the vera least encouragement, she comes that fest ben on a body 'at sometimes a man hardly kens fat he's aboot till his neck be in o' the mink.Ags. 1893 F. Mackenzie Cruisie Sk. xv.:
Sy Wilson . . . was to be married on Friday. “Ay, Sy, an' so ye are to put your heid i' the mink on Friday, are ye?”Abd. 1909 J. Tennant Jeannie Jaffray 231:
He's nae likely to rin his heid into the mink again.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 26:
When wash't an' happit in his bink, An' haudin Jocky in a mink.

4. A length of rope used in a byre having a loop at one end and a Knewel or toggle at the other, which encircles a cow's neck and is attached to the stall by a tether (Kcd. 1825 Jam., munkie); freq. in pl., a halter or bridle for a horse, a head-stall (Fif. 1825 Jam., munks, Fif. 1963, munk); also glossed as “a ring of straw or rushes used in adjusting the bow on a ox” (Abd. 1873 W. Beattie Parings 78).Abd. 1813 W. Beattie Parings 25:
An' plaits a theet, or mends a mink.Bnff. 1852 A. Harper Solitary Hours 57:
We need never think To gnidge his goule in onie mink, Unless 'tis made o' waith horse hair.Fif. 1864 W. Latto T. Bodkin ii.:
Her natural instinct wad probably hae led her to her ain stable. . . . but . . . he wad haud on ruggin' an' rivin' at the munks.Fif. 1964 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 413:
“Wull Ah tak' the monk aff noo?” . . . He removed from the beast's head the rope with which he had been helping to keep her steady.

‡II. v. 1. With up: to coil up a rope in the hand (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 114).

2. To bind, to ensnare, to hold fast (Abd. 1963).Abd. 1861 J. Davidson Poems 96:
I hae ye in my service minkit.