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 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GELLOCK, n.¹ Also gelleck, -ic, gaylock, †gewlock, -ick. An iron crowbar or pinch bar (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 220; Rxb. 1825 Jam., gewlock, -ick, 1923 Watson W.-B., gaylock; Gall., Kcb., Dmf. 1954). Cf. Guloch and Killick. [′gɛlək, ′gel-]Sc. 1862 A. Hislop Proverbs 74:
He gangs frae the jilt to the gellock.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Moss-Hags 1.:
While Wat and I with our crowbars or gellecks . . . were to try our best with the window.Gall. 1901 Trotter Gall. Gossip 239–240:
He turn't up a big flag wi his gellock.