Sc. and north. dial. Forms: 5 ȝhuyk, ȝoke, ȝouk, 5–6 ȝuke, 6 ȝoik, yuik, iuke, yeewk, 7 yeauk, 6– yeuk, yuke, 7– yuck, 8–9 yook, (youk, yoke, 9 yuk, yuc, yewk, yeuck, yuick, ewk, euk(e, uke). [app. alteration of north. ME. ȝeke, ȝike (see ITCH v.1), prob. under the influence of MDu. jeuken.] intr. To itch.

1

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., II. vii. 574. Senyphes … And alkyn kynde of cleggis als Þat gert ȝhuyk [v.r. ȝuke] bathe heid and hals.

2

a. 1508.  Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 130. Bot I may ȝuke all this ȝer, or his ȝerd help.

3

a. 1600.  Montgomerie, Sonn., xxvi. 3. Quhais craig ȝoiks fastest, let tham sey thame sell.

4

1674.  Ray, N. C. Words, 56. Yuck; Linc.

5

1790.  Burns, ‘Kind Sir, we read,’ etc. 26. How Daddie Burke the plea was cookin’, If Warren Hastings’ neck was yeukin’. Ibid. (1796), Poem on Life, vi. Ah Nick!… Thy auld, damned elbow yeuks wi’ joy, And hellish pleasure.

6

1804.  R. Anderson, Cumbld. Ball. (c. 1850), 99. She’ll scart my back whene’er it yuks.

7

1816.  Scott, Antiq., xxi. It wad hae been a fashious job that; by my certie, some o’ our necks wad hae been ewking.

8

1882.  Jas. Walker, Jaunt to Auld Reekie, etc. 42. For poachin’ aye his heart it yeukit.

9

  Hence Yuking vbl. sb. and ppl. a.

10

a. 1449.  W. Bower, in Fordun’s Scotichron. (1759), II. 376. Wyth prik ȝoukand eeris, as the awsk gleg [tr. L. auribus indisciplinata, ut aspis].

11

1562.  Turner, Bathes, 1 b. Good … for the sciatica, and for all kindes of itche or iukinge.

12

1600.  J. Hamilton, Facile Traictise, 40. Sik as flatters thair zeuking earis.

13

1886.  S. W. Linc. Gloss., s.v. Yuck, Such a nasty yucking pain comes on in the legs.

14

1894.  Crockett, Raiders, xxiv. When I get that dry yeukin’ in my thrapple.

15