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.
TICK, int., n.4 Also tikk-, teek.
I. int. Freq. in reduplicative and extended forms tick-tick, tick-tickie, tickie, tikkie, tickie-ae, tick-a-lairie, teek, teek, teek, a call to chickens to come to food (Per., Fif., Lth. 1915–26 Wilson; Ork. 1929 Marw., tikkie; Ork., n.Sc., Ags., Per. 1972); a sound to indicate the clucking of hens.Abd. c.1830 W. D. Geddes J. Geddes (1899) 40:
It'll be time eneuch to cry ‘tickie' when the chuckies come.Kcd. 1932 L. G. Gibbon Sunset Song 69:
Her mother at that moment calling the hens to feed — Tickie-ae! Tickie-ae!Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick vi.:
Fat dis 'e chucknies say noo? Tick, tick-a-lairie.Abd. 1993:
Fin she geed e hens mait, ma mither aye cried 'Teek, teek, teek' or 'Tickie, tickie, tickie'.
II. n. In dim. form tickie: a hen, chicken, usu. in children's usage (ne.Sc., Ags. 1972). Comb. ticky-taed, in-toed, with turned-in toes like a hen (Per., Fif., Lth. 1972).Per. 1933 W. Soutar Seeds in Wind 17:
It's awfae tae be ticky-taed, I'm gled my taes gang oot.
