Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SINK, v., n. Sc. forms and usages:
I. v. A. Forms. Pa.t. sank, sunk. Pa.p. sunk(en); and, after Drucken, sucken (Bwk. 1823 A. Hewit Poems 94; Rxb. 1880 T. Watts Woodland Echoes 114). Sukken (Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 9; Ork. 1929 Old-Lore Misc. IX. ii. 77) has been adopted from Sock, v.1, n.2
B. Usages: 1. As in Eng. Comb. Sunk-raip, the sole- or bottom-rope of a herring drift-net (Abd., Fif. 1970). Agent n. sinker, (1) a weight, gen. of stone or lead, attached to the lower corners of a herring-net to make it sink (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 155); (2) a weight attached to the rope of a horse's stall-collar which keeps it short and the horse forward in the stall (Sc. 1842 J. Aiton Domest. Econ. (1857) 251; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 155; Cld. 1880 Jam.; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; n. and m.Sc. 1970); a clock-weight (Dmf. 1969). Cf. n., 3.(1) Crm. 1829 H. Miller Herring Fishing 23:
The lower [part of a herring net] is bound with a cord called the ground-baulk, and furnished with loops for sinkers.Cai. 1904 E.D.D.:
Since the introduction of the Bush-rope sinkers are not required.(2) Sc. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm I. 127:
A leather stall-collar, having an iron-chain collar-shank to play through the ring, . . . with a turned wooden sinker at its end, to weigh it to the ground.Per.4 1950:
The sinker keeps the halter ticht.
2. Used in imprecations: to blast, ruin, destroy utterly (Sh. 1970). Arch. or dial. in Eng.Wgt. 1878 “Saxon” Gall. Gossip 75:
“Sorra sink her!” says Adam in a passion.Rxb. 1901 R. Murray Hawick Char. 6:
He refused, saying, “Sink it, na.”
3. To curse, imprecate, swear (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1970), freq. in phr. to sink and graem (Edm.). See Gram, v. Also tr. with for, to curse at. Obs. in Eng. since 18th c. Hence ¶sinkation, cursing, swearing.Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sketches 94:
Grieved ta da sowl as men could be, an' sinkin' fur wis an' da whole concairn.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (23 Sept.):
Shü'll tak' a' da waur wi' flytin an' sinkation.
II. n. 1. The shaft of a coal-mine, a coal-pit (Sc. 1825 Jam., 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 60). Rare and dial. in Eng. Hence sink(s)man, one who sinks coal-shafts (Barrowman). Comb. sink-mell, -pick, a hammer or pick used by a sinksman.Lnk. 1714 Session Papers, Thomson v. Pettigrew (15 Feb.) 3:
He had put down the Sink in his own Ground.Gsw. 1730 Glasgow Past & Present (1884) II. 515:
Making two new sinks or coall pitts thereon.Fif. 1751 Session Papers, Petition J. Robertson (6 Jan. 1758) 23:
A sink-mill [sic], three sink-picks, and a set of blowing tools.Sc. 1771 Weekly Mag. (2 May) 158:
The bill for filling up of coal And other pits and sinks.Peb. 1802 C. Findlater Agric. Peb. 22:
Remaining vestiges of old sinks, or pits, still retain the name of Silverholes.e.Lth. 1887 P. McNeill Blawearie 46:
Foul air, completely extinguishing the Lights of the sinksmen.
2. A hollow piece of ground without proper drainage into which water flows to form a marsh, a soft boggy place, a mire (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Sh. 1970), found in place-names. Also fig. Orig. Sc. and now also U.S. Hence sinky boggy, marshy.Sc. 1702 E. West Memoirs (1865) 186:
The way being full of mires, sinks, and snares.Sh. 1753 J. Mill Diary (S.H.S.) 148:
In a straight line by the large grey stone which goes above the minister's sink.Abd. 1811 G. Keith Agric. Abd. 425:
A quantity of superabundant moisture, provincially a sink, without any fountain of running water.Clc. 1814 P. Graham Agric. Clc. 196:
These sinks are small pits of eight or nine feet in diameter, and six or seven feet deep; they are to be met with frequently in this county. They are occasioned by the subsidence of the upper stratum, in fields perforated in every direction by coal-pits.Sc. 1831 Scott Castle Dangerous xvii. Note:
The ominous name of Bloodmire-Sink, or Syke, marks a narrow hollow to the north-west of Douglas Castle.Sh. 1883 J. R. Tudor Ork. and Sh. 541:
Avoid stepping on very green patches, as they generally indicate quagmires, in Shetland called sinky places.
3. A clock-weight. Cf. I. B. 1.Gall. 1904 E.D.D.:
A bairn wi' a clock sink tied roun' its neck.
