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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

POWK, v.¹, n.¹ Also pouk (Abd. 1934 D. Scott Stories 36), puik (Per. 1904 R. Ford Hum. Sc. Stories (Ser. 2) 50, 109), pook (Abd. 1931 J. H. Hall Holy Man xxvii.); pukk (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); poak. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. poke. [pʌuk; puk, esp. I.Sc.]

I. v. 1.

Sc. form of Eng. poke.Abd. 1991 David Ogston in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 117:
the days gaed bleezin by
In simmer heat that birsled skin
An powkit doon intae the marra o ye.Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 42:
I wis gey weariet bidin there, I can tell ye. I powkit aboot ma desk, an caad the styew frae the blackboord cloot, an drew a pictur o Miss McTavish on the boord wi a mowser that suited her rale weel.

Sc. usages:

As in Eng. Used fig., in phr. to powk up, to provoke or annoy (a person), to stir one up, rouse a person to anger, bait.Abd. 1929 Abd. Wkly. Jnl. (21 Feb.) 6:
Ye'll min' foo we powkit up the domonie at skweel on Fastern's Eve.

2. tr. or intr. To dig or excavate in a careless, clumsy way (Bnff., Ags. 1966), to damage by excavation or holing.Bnff. 1719 W. Cramond Ann. Cullen (1888) 79:
The magistrates appoint a moss grieve and appoint that none pouk or pott the mosses or cast up the lairs.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 134:
He wiz powkin, an' howkin a big hole, fin a geed in aboot.

3. To strike, esp. with the foot, to push, shove, thrust, kick (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), pukk); to butt (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Sh. 1962 New Shetlander No. 63. 26:
Da young eens pookin da baa.

4. To thump, beat, thrash, chastise. Vbl.n. pookin, a thrashing (Ork. 1958); phr. to get one's pookins, to get “what's coming to one,” “what for”.Ork. 1959:
Thee faither's better no find thee mischief or thou'll get thee pookins.

II. n. 1. A blow, esp. with the foot, a push, shove (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Dim. pookie, a variety of the game of marbles (Ork. 1923 P. Ork. A.S. 67).Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 14:
Bit the powks rained on him bi the shairp beak waurna kisses - an cast doon the last skirp o doot.

2. A hollow or hole in the ground, gen. waterlogged or marshy (Mry. 1825 Jam.; Mry., Per. 1966); “a deep hole or pit, either full, or empty” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 134). Cf. I. 2.Abd. 1770 Session Papers, Gordon v. Gordon (7 March) 12:
It was a pouk or very boggy ground.Bnff. 1961 Stat. Acc.³ 282:
Between Mains of Auchengoul and the River Deveron, are the “powks” of Auchengoul, a number of holes with what appear to be traces of rude building.