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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.

KNOCK, n.², v.² Also knocke (Rxb. 1702 J. Wilson Ann. Hawick (1850) 112), kinock, (Abd. 1935 Sc. N. & Q. (March) 47); (t)nock, tnoak (Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 220); noak (Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1923–26 Wilson), and dim. knockie (Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. vii.). [Sc. (k)nok, Ags., Per. tnok]

I. n. A clock. Also attrib. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1700 Foulis Acct. Bk. (S.H.S.) 277:
A pund of thried to be knock strings . . . £1. 0. 0.Slg. 1702 Slg. Burgh Rec. (1889) 97:
Appointes James Dick, knock keiper, to ring the councill bell from hencefurth at nyne and twelve aclock each day in the foirnoon.Inv. 1721 Steuart Letter Bk. (S.H.S.) 170:
Please cause bring the Earle of Morrays knock to Aberdeen.Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 49:
Clocks are called knocks, in some parts of Scotland, from the noise they make.Abd. 1827 J. Imlah May Flowers 142:
But wheesht! the knock's deep knell I hear, 'Tis twal — the young year enters earth.Gsw. 1884 H. Johnston Martha Spreull xiv.:
I min' the first thing she did wis to cover up the lookin'-gless, stop the nock, and pu' doon the blinds [after a death].Gsw. 1915 Ian Hay The First Hundred Thousand (1985) 45:
"See the kirk, in ablow the brae!" says someone else, in a pleased voice. "It has a nock in the steeple."Ags. 1918 J. Inglis The Laird 10:
Noo, when it cam tae simmer-time, An' the tnock was shifted on, My faither cam' an' moved the hands.m.Sc. 1950 O. Douglas Farewell to Priorsford 107:
He can turn himsel' into onything — a chair — a table — the tangs — the nock.Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 49:
nock A clock: 'Is that nock right?' ne.Sc. 1996 W. Gordon McPherson in Sandy Stronach New Wirds: An Anthology of Winning Poems and Stories from the Doric Writing Competitions of 1994 and 1995 19:
Aa wis leukin doon oot o ma windi in the front, the knock wis jist chappin five, fin a great muckle car stoppit fair anint's, o' the ither side o the road. w.Lth. 2000 Davie Kerr A Puckle Poems 21:
Wir Goth tow'rs leanin ow'r,
its knock stuck at hauf-past fowr.

Combs. and Phrs.: 1. knock-breist, the front of a church gallery containing a clock. See Breist; 2. knock house, that part of a steeple in which a public clock and its works are placed. Cf. obs. Eng. clock-house; 3. knock laft, a gallery in a church containing a clock or knock-house (Fif. 1960); ¶4. to go off at the knock, to go off one's head. Cf. aff at the knot, id., s.v. Knot, n.¹1. Bch. 1949 W. R. Melvin Poems 42:
Wi' cushions he lay snug an' saft, Ahin the knock-breist o' the laft.2. Bte. 1714 Rothesay T. C. Rec. (1935) II. 646:
For seaven daills to the Knockhouse at 15s. per peace . . . £5. 5. 0.Sc. 1885 A. Edgar Old Church Life 29:
A narrow inside stair led to the knock house from the east loft.3. Lnk. 1704 J. Greenshields Lesmahagow (1864) 146:
It is agreed that there be a stent of 100 merks Scots uplifted out of the Paroch for repairing the pulpit, the knock and knockloft, and for furnishing a pulpit cloth.Sc. 1885 A. Edgar Old Church Life 29:
The knock house stood in a little gallery called the knock loft, built against the inside of the east gable.4. Lnk. 1895 W. C. Fraser Whaups of Durley vii.:
I wish ye binna gaun clean off at the knock wi' yoursel' a' thegither on oor han's.

†II. v. To strike, of a clock.Rxb. 1702 J. Wilson Ann. Hawick (1850) 112:
He shall keep the Town's knocke in the steeple in ane good going and sufficient case and condition, without cracke or flaw for knocking and choping hourly night and day.