Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PILK, n.2 Also päilk-. Dim. pelkie. A small slightly-built boy, a slip of a lad, freq. in phr. a pilk o' a boy (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Deriv. pilkin, päilkin, a child, a young thing (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), päilkins o' bairns). Sometimes used in dim. form Pelkie as a sobriquet for the Devil. Cf. the auld (black) tad, id., s.v. Lad, I. 1. (16). [pɪlk, pəilk]Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 2:
About the centre of the ground covering the grip, there was a round hole . . . locally known as Pelkie's (Satan's) hole.
