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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SKAIK, v., n. Also skaich; skawk (Mry.). [skek; Mry. skɑk]

I. v. 1. tr. or absol. To smear, plaster or daub a soft wet substance over a surface, to streak, blotch (Ags. 1970), now gen. in vbl.n. skaikin, a blotchy or streaky appearance, “used e.g. of faulty television reception” (Ags. 1954), ppl.adj. skaikit, bedaubed, besmeared, streaked (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Mry. 1921 T.S.D.C., skawkit; ne.Sc., Ags. 1970).n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
A child is said to skaik his porridge when instead of supping it equally, he spreads it over the plate with his spoon.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxvi.:
Skaikit wi' skirps o' sharn bree.Bnff. 1929 Banffshire Jnl. (17 Sept.) 2:
Oo ay, ma lef's better lang syne — hardly a skaiken' on't far the sair bit wis!Abd. 1950:
The wa's aa skaikit an skirpit — all streaked by being badly whitewashed.Ags.²⁰ 1954:
I heard a child lately refer to her very uneven application of a wash of colour (in her painting) as “awfu skaikit-lookin.”

2. By extension: to (fall with a) splash, to slither in mud or the like.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 115:
Doon I skaikit, skloit on the braid o' my back.

II. n. A smear, daub, a surface coating of paint, etc. (Ags. 1970): fig. a streak, patch.Ags. 1912 A. Reid Forfar Worthies. 82:
Div' ye ca' that wa'nit? It's juist a b — skaich.Abd. 1967 Buchan Observer (21 Feb.) 2:
Oor hooses doon and a' the grun' Gane back tae skyaachs o' sprots an, whun.