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.² The earwig (Gall. 1825 Jam.; Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 348; s.Ayr., Kcb., Dmf. 1954). Also †gelloch (Ayr., Dmf. 1825 Jam.), †gewlick (Rxb. Ib.), gailick, gelick (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.), gaylock (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), gallic(k), gellog (Uls. 1931 North. Whig (5 Dec.) 13, Uls.⁴ 1954), gelleck (Kcb.¹⁰ 1954). Cf. Golach. Also applied to various species of beetle resembling the earwig.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 220:
It [gellock] is lobster shaped, about an inch long, of a black colour, inclosed in a hard rind. They bite savage-like, and their bite is attended always with a little poison.Gall. 1824 Cantrip Rhyme in Ib. 114:
Yallow puddocks champit sma', Spiders ten, and gellocks twa.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders v.:
The two old ladies stood up together, as you have seen the sentries of a line of geese picking worms and gellecks (little beetles like earwigs) on the sand.