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.
RAUK, v.2, n.1 Also rauck, rawk; †rock (Ork. 1717 P. Ork. A.S. (1933–4) XII. 48); misprint rank (Rs. 1936 C. MacDonald Echoes of Glen 149). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. rake. [rǫ:k, rɑ:k]
I. v. 1. To grope about, rummage.ne.Sc. 1783 Gil Brenton in Child Ballads No. 5. A. lxi.:
Aye she rauked and aye she flang.Kcb. c.1850 Vale of Urr Verses MS. I. 168:
He rawks for the flask wi' an eerisome grane.
2. To scratch. Also in n.Eng. dial. Ppl.adj. raucked, scratched, grooved (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 404); vbl.n. raucking, the screeching, grating noise such as is made by a nail on a slate (Ib.).Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 405:
A cat raucking on a bedden.
II. n. A scratch, groove, rut (Sc. 1887 Jam.); the high-pitched grating sound made by a sharp point on a hard surface. Also in n.Eng. dial. Deriv. raucky, scratchy.m.Lth. 1868 Royal Caled. Curling Club Annual 275:
The rauk o' the cutter gars ilka heart flutter, O' curlers as keen as e'er curlers can be.Kcb. c.1930:
A raucky pencil = one that makes a scratch on the slate.