Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

YARK, n. Also yarki; jark(i) (Jak.). The space between the forefinger and thumb (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.), in Sh. more freq. in deriv. yarken, -in (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 221, 1908 Jak. (1928), jarkin; I.Sc. 1974); the edge of the foot at its widest part, the instep (Jak.; Marw.; Ork. 1974, the yark o the feet); by metonymy: a handful (Jak.).Sh. a.1936 Sh. Folk Bk. (1957) 6:
Byarki, Byarki, A treiv i di yarki.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 56:
Shu shewed a bit o' laskit i' da yarkin.Sh. 1964 Folk Life II. 12:
Bundles of rushes made up for maishie-making were as big as could be squeezed into the yarkin' of the hand, i.e., the outstretched thumb and forefinger.