Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1725-1991
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SAKELESS, adj. Also sai(c)kless; sa(c)kless; seckless (Dmb. 1827 W. Taylor Poems 57); sa(u)chless (Hogg). [′sekləs, ′sɑkləs]
1. Innocent, not guilty of sin or wrong-doing (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Slk. 1950). With o, of the crime, etc. Also transf. Obs. in Eng. In 1850 quot. transf. to mean of which the sufferer was undeserving.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. v. iii.:
They'd smoor the sakeless orphan in her bed.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 115:
But gin they anes brak loose, they winna spare Sakeless or guilty.Sc. 1802 Scott Minstrelsy II. 45:
And wherever that saikless knight lies slain, The candles will burn bright.Ags. 1820 R. Mudie Glenfergus xxiv.:
Ye were sakeless o' the accident.Gsw. 1832 Fife Herald (25 Oct.):
The prisoner on leaving the dock said, "I am sakeless of the crime."Clc. 1850 J. Crawford Doric Lays 11:
The saikless sorrows that oppress'd Dunrod's wee wander'd bairn.Sc. a.1894 Stevenson New Poems (1918) 114:
Aft hae I gane, a saikless maid.Ags. 1932 A. Gray Arrows 54:
My honour I've kept, as befits a maid; I'm saikless, as babe in the cradle laid.Dundee 1991 Ellie McDonald The Gangan Fuit 10:
Luv - I ken ye bi yer sang
an saikless as a bairn
I walk the caller gress.
2. Of persons, animals or things: inoffensive, harmless, guileless. Also in n.Eng. dial. Now chiefly liter. Adv. saiklesslie (Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ i. x.).Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 14:
The cries an' yaumers gar'd the thief let gang The sakless beast, but not without great wrang.Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 358:
But ah! Lord help the sakeless saul Wha is forced to bide the frost and caul.Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poetry I. 228:
June's strong red beam, December's snaw, Fell saickless at thy side.Rnf. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 212:
Nor sair the sakeless woodie twine.Ags. 1819 A. Balfour Campbell I. xiv.:
That poor sakeless chiel upon the hillock beside ye.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 202:
Never was sakeless dask o' timmer Sae persecute and put to cummer.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan I. xii.:
It shall endow a house and a hame for the helpless mad, and the sackless insane.Ags. 1920 A. Gray Songs from Heine 24:
Upon your saikless young hert The winter's snaw lies deep.Ayr. 1927 J. Carruthers A Man Beset i. ii.:
I was a wicked woman that day, Andie, and you nae mair nor a sakeless lad.
3. Lacking, destitute (of). Cf. Eng. innocent sim. used.Sc. 1821 Bannockburn I. i.:
A plain country has a sackless appearance to me.Uls. 1900 T. Given Poems 145:
Some wur bedeck't in corduroy, An' sakeless o' a shoe.
4. Without sense or gumption, silly, foolish, lacking drive or energy, sloppy, careless (Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Dmf. 1960). Also in n.Eng. dial.Dmf. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (May) 158, 161:
Sworn a bit o' ought that's eatable will thae sackless sinners get. . . . For all sae saft and sackless as ye look, I wadnae trust myself with ye.Slk. 1824 Hogg Justified Sinner 301:
Ye silly, sauchless, Cameronian cuif! is that a' that ye ken about the wiles an doings o' the prince o' the air?Dmf. 1878 R. W. Thom Jock o' the Knowe 10:
Sackless he sat in his elbow chair An' looked wi' a dim bamboozled ee.Sc. 1951 Scots Mag. (May) 87:
His brither Philip, a sackless chiel.