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 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WISK, n. Also deriv. and dim. forms weesko, weeskal, wisgal. A bunch, a tangled mass (of threads, roots, etc.) (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh., Ork., Bnff., Abd. 1974); an untidy bunching or knot in a scarf or shawl (Cai. 1905 E.D.D.; Marw.).Abd. 1956 J. Murray Rural Rhymes 50:
I'll get a fang o' “Glesca Jock” An' a wisk o' heather cowes.Ork. 1958:
His scarf was in a wisgal round his neck.