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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

KECKLE, v., n. Also kekle, kickle. Sc. forms of Eng. cackle. See also Caikle. [kɛkl]

I. v. 1. Of a hen: to cackle, cluck. Gen.Sc. Vbl.n. kicklin, cackling.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 31:
When the hens begin to keckle.Dmf. 1810 R. H. Cromek Remains 32:
Our gray clocking hen she gaed keckling her lane.Hdg. 1821 W. Smith Orig. Poems 70:
Ay her eggies hame did bring Wi' kicklin' and wi' glee.Abd. 1934 D. Scott Stories 61:
He was sure it was hens, he said, beca'se he heard them kecklin'.

2. To laugh in a high-pitched or silly manner, to giggle (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 290; Uls. 1953 Traynor). Gen.Sc.; to chuckle. Also ppl.adj. kecklin.Edb. 1782 N.B. Weekly Mag. (13 Nov.) 67:
Auld cocks did cheer, Round a' the year And lads and lasses laugh and kickle.Slk. 1820 Hogg Tales (1874) 279:
They were keckling and speaking Gaelic.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie xvi.:
I'll be kittling you till ye keckle.Abd. 1920 C. Murray Country Places 28:
The ploys I've shared an' daurna tell Cheer mony a lanely winter's e'en, Just kecklin' owre them to mysel'.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 10:
Wha oxtert 'im frae oot the crood, Gaffin' and kecklin' lang an' lood.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 51:
Wha's here tae me but kecklin Thalia
snirtin an geeglin bi the chimla-brace
shoggin ma airm tae pour the usquebaugh. Sc. 1996 Herald 24 Jan 15:
Impressive or what, with those keckling sinners and squealing virgins? Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 48:
"Even though it is plastic. Ye're hefty eneuch tae flatten it." The lave o the Broonies keckled an leuch.

3. To laugh with joy or excitement, to show signs of unrestrained eagerness or delight (Ags. 1849 Brechin Advertiser (22 May) 4; Sh., ne.Sc., Ags. 1959).Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 77:
For Fainness, Deary, I'll gar ye keckle, If ye'll go dance the Bob of Dunblane.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 141:
But Maggy an ye be a mind to marry . . . ye maun kekle, and look cantylike whan the carles is gaun by.Rxb. 1815 J. Ruickbie Poems 102:
Her handsome shape an' glancin' een Wad gart a farmer keckle.Ags. 1890 A. Lowson John Guidfollow iv.:
They're a' kecklin' tae shake their feet i' the ball-room.Kcb. 1911 G. M. Gordon Clay Biggin' 135:
He wud thrust himsel' forward amangst a' the mourners an' keckle wi' delicht as he peeped intil the open grave.

4. With up: to show signs of renewed interest or spirit, to brighten or perk up, to recover from illness or sadness, to get irritated or angry (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 93). This usage is appar. due to confusion with Kittle, q.v.Ib.:
She's beginning to keckle-up fell weel sin' hir man's death. He kecklet-up at ance fin't wiz proposet t' gang t' the market.

II. n. A cackle, lit. and fig., a chuckle (ne.Sc., Ags., Lth. 1959); a smothered laugh (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.), loud chatter, foolish talk (Uls. 1953 Traynor).Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost xii.:
“I' gude faith”, cried the Bailie, with a keckle of exultation.Dwn. 1844 R. Huddleston Poems 70:
The keckle tingled through her breast, As ower these lines repeated.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xlvi.:
So she gya a bit keckle o' a lauch.Rnf. 1877 J. M. Neilson Poems 62:
The keckle was jist at its hicht.Abd. 1993:
Ging oot wi a keckle.