Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SHEELOCK, n. Also -ack, -ic(k), shillack, -ick, -ock; shellock. [′ʃilək]
1. Gen. in pl.: the light or small grains of corn blown away in the process of winnowing (Abd. 1825 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1970); the chaff and broken straw riddled off in threshing (ne. Sc. 1970), by confusion with sheelin s.v. Sheel.Abd. 1759 Gordon's Mill Farming Club (1962) 97:
Offals, shellock, dust &c.Abd. 1811 G. Keith Agric. Abd. 501:
The farmer gives his horses the lighter oats, provincially shillocks.Abd. 1835 Abd. Shaver (May) 157:
We will endeavour to learn the price of the beer skeelics [sic] at the Newburgh.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxiv.:
I wudna gi'en a goupenfu' o' sheelocks for yer chance.Abd. 1909 J. Tennant Jeannie Jaffray 244:
It [the crap] wis ower lang in ripenin' an' got a nip o' the frost; sae it's faur fae heavy, an' ower mony shellocks.Bnff. 1934 J. M. Caie Kindly North 26:
D'ye min' the wye the bairnies ees't to hing on til yer mane, An' dunsh aboot like shillicks fan ye ran?
2. An undersized person.Kcd. 1956 Mearns Leader (3 Aug.):
He's a shargert, bow-hocht sheelick o' a craitter.
3. A shrunken watery crab caught before coming into season in autumn (Bnff. 1970).
[Dim. of Sheel, n. O.Sc. scheillikis, = 1., 1634.]
