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.
SICK, int., n.1 Also sic, and dim. forms sickie, siccie. [sɪk]
I. int. A call to a lamb or to a calf to come to be fed from its bottle (Abd. 1904 E.D.D.; ne.Sc., Ags. 1970). Also in n.Eng. dial. as a call to pigs.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick ii.:
“Sic, sic, siccie, sic, sic, siccie, sic, sic,” said Mains in the manner of feeding a sucking lamb.
II. n. 1. A pet lamb brought up on the bottle. Hence attrib. a sick lamb, an orphan lamb (Bch. 1926 Dieth 59; Bnff., Abd. 1970).Bnff.2 1940:
We've lost a lot o' yowes this sizzon, an' I've half a dizzen o' sickies to look efter.ne.Sc. 1970 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 422:
There was never a lamb born yet without a mother. We dinna want nae siccies here.
2. A fir cone, esp. one used as a plaything (Abd. 1930). Cf. Yowe, id.
[Prob. an altered form and extended usage of Souk, v. Cf. Eng. dial. sucky, a call to calves, occas. to sheep or pigs.]
