Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
RUNK, v.3 1. To deprive someone of all his money, possessions, etc., to make bankrupt, to clean out (n.Sc. 1825 Jam., Rnf. a.1850 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) R.53; ne.Sc., Ags., Slg., Fif. 1968). Pa.p. runkit, deprived of all one's possessions, cleaned out, rooked (ne.Sc., Fif. 1968). [rʌŋk]Abd. 1920 R. Calder Gleanings II. 12:
He cam hame clean runket.Lth. 1928 S. A. Robertson With Double Tongue 46:
Sandie had a poosie-knuckle and aye was runkit first.Ags. 1934 H. B. Cruickshank Noran Water 14:
O' peace he runkit me, Doon tae the last bawbee.Ags. 1945 Forfar Dispatch (27 Dec.):
I wiz fair runkit buyin gifts lest year.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 44:
Hades withoot an Elysium,
Blessed Isles runked o joy;
nae water o mercy washes oot memory.
2. To rob a bird's nest of its eggs (Ags. 1968).
[Prob. a conflation of Rook, v.1, and Rump. Cf. also Runt, v.1, 1.]
