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 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DUCK, n. The small stone used in a children's game; also the name of the game itself, duckstone (Lth., Rxb. 1825 Jam.²; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Uls.³ 1930). The game was also known by the name of table the duck (Gsw.¹ 1938), duck at the table (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn., 1921 S. Leighton in Belfast Tel.) and duck Henry Leith (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Common in Eng. dial. Cf. Dockie, n., 1. and double-docks s.v. Dooble, adj., 4. Hence extended to any stone.Sc. 1821 Blackwood's Mag. (Aug.) 35:
The duck is a small stone placed on a larger, and attempted to be hit off by the players at the distance of a few paces.s.Sc. 1863 Border Mag. (Aug. 1937) 116:
I gets up a duck and lets drive into the hole tae jap them wi' the splash o' the water.

Hence dim. duckie, id., also applied to the boy in charge of the duck (see quot.).ne.Sc. 1909 Colville 155:
Duckie seems to have been a sort of variation of rounders. A pointed stone was placed on the ground, and a smaller one on top of it. Beside it stood duckie or man in charge, while the others (outs) stood at intervals around. Each tried to knock off the top stone (also known as duckie). None must run till duckie was knocked off.