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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

TORK, v., n. Also torque.

I. v. “To torture, or give pain, by the continued infliction of punctures, pinching, nipping or scratching” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.).

II. n. A twist or small bundle of hay, a small truss.Dmf. 1811 in D. A. Mackenzie Sc. Folk-Lore (1935) 48:
Give it [a pig] a tork of straw to eat, it will be hungry.

[?. Cf. E.M.E. torqued, twisted, convoluted, Fr. torquer, Lat. torquere, to twist, but there may be confusion with E.M.E. torcass, turkess, to wrest, twist, distort, and Turkis.]

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