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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DERK, Dairk, adj. and n. Sc. (mainly s.) form of Eng. dark. (derk Ork., Ags., Gsw., Rxb.; dairk Ags., Dmf. 2000s). See P.L.D. § 104 (2) and M.M.Sc. p. 38. [dɛrk Sc.; dærk s.Sc.]

1. adj. Given for Rxb. in Jam.² (1825)   See also dark n. and v.Abd. 1991 George Bruce in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 22:
The mist was risen afore him, mixed in
wi the floorish o gean and blackthorn: bird sang,
teuchats flapped aboot the derk plooed fields,... Bwk. 1899 A. Thomson Ann. Thornlea 9:
He soon came back with the information that “the licht i' the ben room's a' derk.”Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 2:
Derk fir planteens that . . . aamaist pletteet ther brainches abuinheed.Slk. 1998 Christine De Burgh White in Neil R. MacCallum Lallans 51 11:
Power hummin throu the towerin telegraph poles.
A derk spooky wuid.
Greval swampin me.
Derk weeds clawin oot o the waa.

Hence derksome, dairksome, darksome.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 60:
The warl begins again wi bleary ee,
claitter o cans i the gutter,
glints o shaittered gless at the roadside,
skriechin gulls abuin the dairksome North Sea
whaur ships rest, bidan on the tide.Slk. a.1835 Hogg Tales (1837) II. 315:
Mary . . . dinna you think it wad be as good for us for till sit down here in this bonny derksome bush as wait till midnight.

2. n.Sc. 1931 J. Lorimer Red Sergeant xvi.:
But I'm a' in the derk.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 37:
(he wis humphy-backit
himsel an' cuid fricht
the life f'ae onie bairn
whaun he shauchelt oot o the dairk)em.Sc. 1988 James Robertson in Joy Hendry Chapman 52 71:
' ... But he bummelt an stummelt aroun i the derk ... 'em.Sc.(a) 1991 Kate Armstrong in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 111:
A chiel
thocht vaunty, screivit in the derk
Thon's no ma name; cry me Hentool,
Tongsyabas, a yaird o reid an blue.