Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1706-1718, 1801-1847
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ROCK, v., n.2 Sc. usages:
I. v. 1. As in Eng. Sc. comb. with ppl.adj. rocking tree, a beam of wood resting on pivots which can be oscillated, e.g. in a church bell.Mry. 1706 Boharm Parish Mag. (July, 1897):
A rocking tree, new buckle and tugg to the bell.
2. To stagger or reel in walking (Sh., ne.Sc., Kcb. 1968). Also in Eng. dial.Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 79:
Some fell, and some ga'ed rockin.Abd. 1801 W. Beattie Parings (1873) 23:
Now the drink set some a rockin'.
¶3. Of an animal: to move at a good round pace, to gallop.Slk. 1847 W. Crozier Cottage Muse 16:
Right cheerfully away he [pointer] rockit.
4. Derivs. rockie, rocky, rockety, in comb. rockie-row(e), rockety-, v., and adv., (to move) with a rocking, undulating or rolling motion (Fif., Kcb. 1968); n., as a game, see 1825 quot. (‡Bnff. 1968).Peb. 1817 R. D. C. Brown Lintoun Green 17:
Wanes, Rockety-row, fast rolling steer, Down its green brae.Slk. 1823 Hogg Perils of Woman II. 226:
They [sheep]'re gayan weel heckit beasts, gaun rockie-rowin wi' their cock lugs.Abd., Peb. 1825 Jam.:
Rockety-Row. A play in which two persons stand with their backs to each other; and, the one passing his arms under the shoulders of the other, they alternately lift each other from the ground.Slk. 1836 Fraser's Mag. (Oct.) 435:
It [one's head] will never can stand still again, but just rocky-rowe for ever.
II. n. A drinking bout. Cf. v. 2. and Eng. slang rocky, tipsy.Ags. 1836 Justiciary Reports (1838) 192:
He said he would have a damnable "rock", before he went to bed that night.
