Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
-OCK, suff. Also -oc (Sc. 1825 Jam.), -ac(k) , -ic(k); -e(c)k, -ik (Sh.); reduced form -k; -ag, -og (Cai. See P.L.D. §158). Cf. also -Och, suff., II. 2. (4). [-ɔk, -ək]
I. Forming adjs. with modifying sense = somewhat, rather, e.g. Hallock, Jollock. Rare.
II. Forming nouns: as a diminutive, freq. alternating with other dim. endings, -an, -et, -Ie, -In(g), either freely or with differentiation of meaning, e.g. bairnag, Bittock, boyag, Brismac, Deevilock, dolek s.v. Dullyac, Fittock, fodek s.v. Fiddack, floorack s.v. Flour, Gavelock, gemlick s.v. Gemlet, Guddick, Hattock, kittluck, laddock, lassock, Lythock, meelick, moolick s.v. Muild, n.1, v.1, Playock, Puddock, queyock, queyag s.v. Quey, Sourock, Stirk, Tourock (in Sh. the dim. force has practically disappeared in many words, e.g. Birdek, Birtek, Hellek, Kaulik); as a hypocoristic after personal names as Jock, q.v., Bessock, Jamock, Jeanock (Sc. 1825 Jam.), Aggock, Davock, Hughock, Marock (Ayr. 1912 D. McNaught Kilmaurs 295), Johndag, Wildag (see P.L.D. §158). The use of -ock as a simple dim. is obsol., exc. phs. in Cai. and Rs., being replaced by -Ie, 2., q.v., but is more freq. in the compounded forms (1) -lock, -lick, -lack ( < -Le + -Ock), extended to such words as Gaiblick, kneeplach s.v. Kneep, knibblack, -lock, knitelich s.v. Knoit, and (2) -i(c)kie (-Ock + -Ie), esp. in ne.Sc., as housickie, lassockie, loonikie, pussickie, etc. (cf. Abd. c.1780 A. Watson The Wee Wifeikie (1921) passim).
[From O.E. -oc, -uc, now obs., exc. in such words as hillock, haddock. The Cai. forms are due to conflation with or adaptations of Gael. dim. suff. -ag, -og, and in ne.Sc. there has been almost complete formal confusion with -Och, suff., q.v.]
