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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BUCK, v.² and adv.

1. v.

(1) “To aim at any object, to push, to butt” (Per. 1825 Jam.²); to batter. Vbl.n. bucking, ppl.adj. bucket. MacTaggart in Gallov. Encycl. (1824) gives buckin, striking.Abd.¹³ 1914:
It's a' bucket an' blaudit.Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 219:
They . . . took up their residence at this Buckhaven, so called . . . on account of the battle they had with their neighbours at Berwick . . . which was then called bucking one another, but is now named boxing or fighting.

Phr.: to buck and crune, to show great eagerness (for), “supposed to refer to the conduct of the buck, when rutting, in expressing his eagerness for the doe” (Jam.²). See Crune (s.v. Croon, v.², 1).Dmf. 1825 Jam.²:
Ye needna insist on't, for ye sanna get it, if ye soud buck and crune for't.

(2) (a) To walk to and fro. Also sometimes used as a noun (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 17). Known to Kcb.⁹ 1936; (b) “to walk with a somewhat stately step” (Ib.).(a) Ib.:
The men buckit aboot the tent-door for an 'oor or twa.(b) Bnff.² 1936:
Francie buckit up an' doon the closs as gin he wiz the laird himsel'.

2. adv. Vigorously, with force.Mry. 1865 W. H. L. Tester Poems 128:
May luck aye gang buck aye Agin the temperance tent.