Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SUILKIE, n. Also suilka; so(i)lka (Jak.). [Sh. ′sɔilkə; Ork. ′sølk(j)i]
1. A damp, dirty mass, a mess (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); a mass or clutter in gen.; sediment, dregs, a heterogeneous liquid mixture. Comb. suilka-drink, a mixture of water or whey and meal and salt given as a medicine to sick animals (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).Sh. 1897 Shetland News (22 May):
Dat twa [cows] 'ill hae to get a suilka drink wi' a fjim o' aetmeal upo' him.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
A suilkie o' dirty water; a whole suilkie o' stuff.
2. One's usual haunts or surroundings; hence by extension: “an animal away from its proper pasturage” (Ork. 1929 Marw., “what is meant probably is that when a sheep, etc., strays it is ‘oot o' its suilkie'”)Marw.:
“Tae flee the suilkie,” to clear out of one's usual haunts; “out o' the suilkie,” not in the range of one's notice, beyond one's ken.
