Sc. Obs. Forms: α. 5 wake, 5–7 vake, 7 veak. β. 5 wayk, 5–7 vaik, 6 waik, 6–7 vaick, 7 vaike. [ad. L. vac-āre to be empty: cf. prec. So OF. and F. vaquer, Sp. and Pg. vacar, It. vacare. With the exception of quot. 1543 in 1 α the use of the word is entirely Scottish: cf. VACAND ppl. a.]
1. intr. Of a benefice, office, or position: To become or fall vacant; also, to remain vacant or unfilled.
Freq. from c. 1550 to c. 1650, esp. of ecclesiastical benefices.
α. c. 1425. Wyntoun, Chron., V. 4110 (Cott.). Qwhen he was ded, þan dayis nyne þat se wakyt [Wemyss MS. vaikit].
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 223. For and the Archebischopryke of Ranis or Rowan vakit, and the chanouns wald ches ane Inglisman to be archebischop.
1522. Douglas, in Wks. (1874), I. p. cx. The beneficis and grete prelaceiis that wakis.
1543. Sentleger, in St. Papers Hen. VIII., III. III. 485. Ther is a Statute here [at Waterford],… that when suche rombe shulde vake,… they shoulde then electe and chose … one Inglisheman.
1604. A. Seton, in G. Seton, Memoir (1882), iv. 57. Quhen eiuer onye place sould vake in onye maner.
β. c. 1550. Lyndesay, Tragedie, 361. Quhen thare doith vaik ony benefyse.
1558. Kennedy, Com. Treat., in Misc. Wodrow Soc. (1844), 151. Gyf ane benefice vaick, the gret men of the realme wyll haue it.
1570. Satir. Poems Reform., xviii. 102. Sic [a lord] as … feiris God now sen the roume dois waik.
1639. Marq. of Hamilton, Expl. Meaning Oath & Covenant, 16. [It] also declares, that all bishopricks vaicking, or that shall vaick, shall be only disponed to actuall preachers and ministers in the Kirk.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1851), II. 204. Thus Oswall cumis bak with this ansuer, and Doctor Forbes place still vaikis.
1696. in Home Papers (Hist. MSS. Comm.), 271. The Justice Clerk … disposes of the Clerk to the Justice Court his place when it vaikes.
b. Of a tack or tenancy.
1473. Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879), I. 197. Gif it happynis … thar takis to wayk be ony maner of wa.
1542. Records of Elgin (New Spald. Cl.), I. 69. Failȝeand heirof the forsaidis takkis to vaik eo facto.
2. Of persons: a. To be free, to have time or leisure, for engaging in some occupation; to be occupied or busy. Const. for, on or upon (also, to wait or attend upon one), to.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 221. The law levis all clerkis to vake in scolis and in studyis to … sciences and literature. Ibid., 222. Of thame quhilkis levis all richessis … to vake thareapon.
1501. Douglas, Pal. Hon., III. xviii. All thir … on Venus seruice vaikis, In deidis of armis for thair ladyis saikis.
1566–7. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 497. Becaus the haill Lordis of Secreit Counsall may nocht weill vaik at all tymes for the ordouring thairof being occupiit with uther wechtie materis.
a. 1600. Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, xli. 29. Nou Cupid compellis Our hairtis echone On Venus vha vaikis, To muse on our maikis.
a. 1614. J. Melvill, Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 45. I was resigned ower be my father hailelie unto him to veak upon him as his sone and servant.
b. To be at leisure or free from some occupation or business.
c. 1470. Henryson, Mor. Fab., VIII. (Preach. Swallow), xxxix. Esope … Quhen that he vaikit frome mair autentik werk,… this foirsaid fabill wrait.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scotl., II. 107. Quhen he mycht vake fra temporal effayres, his exercise was ay in spiritual.
a. 1600. Montgomerie, Sonn., lxv. 4. Quhan I may vaik fra service of the king.
Hence † Vaked ppl. a.; † Vaking vbl. sb. and ppl. a. Obs.
1572. J. Knox, in Calderw., Hist. Kirk Scotl. (Wodrow Soc.), III. 766. That all bishoprics vacand may be presented … within a yeer after the vaiking therof.
1622. in R. M. Fergusson, A. Hume (1899), 221. They assigne to him the first vaiking Gilbrotheris fyne that sall occur to thame.
1638. in A. Maxwell, Hist. Old Dundee (1884), 388. Being oft times requirit, [he] would propone nothing but only ane mein [= moan] ‘Vaiked Sea!’
1660. in Crookshank, Hist. Suffer. Ch. Scot. (1749), I. 59. That hereafter vaking stipends may be intromitted with by Presbyteries.
