Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SUNK, n.² What has been sunk; .specif.: 1. a draw-well. Cf. Sink. [sʌŋk] Nai. 1794 Stat. Acc.¹ XII. 390: A sunk, or draw-well for the use of the castle.

2. a crab- or lobster-trap, esp. one made of sparred flooring and half-hoops covered with netting and sunk in the water with heavy stones (Ags. 1971).Ags. 1904 J. M. Campbell Notes on Bell Rock 11:
A return of four lobsters for the hauling of fifty “ sunks.”