Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1700, 1820-1928, 1991
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THICK, adj. Also †thaik (e.Lth. 1703 Trans. E. Lth. Antiq. Soc. IV. 28), (Sh., Ork., Cai., Bnff., Abd., Ags., Fif., Edb., Gsw., Ayr., Dmf., Rxb. 2000s) and Sh. forms tic(k), tik(k). [θɪk; Sh. tɪk]
1. Sc. form of Eng. thick.Sh. 1991 Rhoda Bulter in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 70:
Veeve can I mind dat lang traik trowe da hill,
Whin me feet felt laek lead, bit left hardly a mett
Idda boannie green moss at lay tick idda gyill.
An I grett.
2. Sc. usages. As in colloq. Eng., very friendly, intimate, in various Sc. similes, as thick as ben-leather, — as crowdy, — as dog's lugs (Per. 1972), — as horse heads, — as three in a bed.Sc. 1820 Scott Monastery Intro.:
You twa will be as thick as three in a bed an ance ye forgather.Sc. 1836 Wilson's Tales of the Borders II. 259:
The two got as thick as ben-leather.Edb. 1876 J. Smith Archie & Bess 23:
Him and me's as thick as doug's lugs.Ags. 1892 A. Reid Howetoon 95:
In the company o' twa derf lookin, English chields, as thick wi' them as crowdy.Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 319:
Dey waar seek cronies an' as tick as horse heds.
Deriv. and phrs.: (1) thickness, familiarity, intimacy; (2) thick and threefaud, very friendly (Sh., Per., Uls. 1972), also as in Eng. dial., in large numbers, closely packed, in a throng (Cai. 1972); (3) to mak thick wi', to ingratiate oneself with (Cld. 1825 Jam.).(1) Lnk. 1858 G. Roy Generalship 171:
Willie and his father-in-law to be, were now, in a manner, scunnersome wi' their thickness.(2) Sc. 1825 Jam.:
Ills come thick and three-fauld on him.Gsw. 1863 W. Miller Nursery Songs 56:
Thick-an'-threefauld in the trance, Bright forms strain'd to be near The glowing hearth.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) viii.:
The twa o' them were juist thick an' three-faud afore they were half-an-'oor thegither.Cai. 1928:
Goin' into 'e hall thick an' three-fauld.
3. Gen. combs. and deriv.: (1) thick back, the variegated sole, Solea variegata (Sc. 1930 Fishery Board Gl.). Also in Eng. fishing areas; (2) thick black, a brand of strong tobacco. Gen.Sc.; (3) thickness, a dense fog or sea-mist (Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Sh., Abd., em.Sc., Lnk., Wgt., s.Sc. 1972). Obs. in Eng.(2) Sc. 1928 H. Lauder Roamin 41:
A chunk of “thick black” . . . This tobacco is not very well known to smokers outside of Scotland and Ireland. It is a particularly pungent brand.(3) Sh. 1881 Williamson MSS.:
To set up a tikness; to stand wi a tikness afore 'im.
4. Of a thick-set build, muscular, burly (Sc. 1905 E.D.D.; Ork., n., em.Sc., Wgt. 1972). Obs. in Eng.Edb. 1700 Edb. Gazette (1–5 Feb.):
Thomas Gibson, a laigh thick man, rudie fac'd.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 69:
Thick Jamie Bud, lang Sandy Kay.
