Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BICK, v.2 To weep and sob, to whine.w., s.Sc. 1887 Jam.6:
Bick is applied to the short, quick sounds made by a child when sobbing and crying; byke is applied to the long drawn sobs that come after the crying has ended. Hence the saying, “I'd rather see a bairn bickin than bykin.”
