Sc. and north. dial. [Cf. Norw. linka to give a toss or bending motion with the body (Aasen), to fling, or drive backwards and forwards (Ross). Cf. also LINCH v.2] intr. To move nimbly, pass quickly along; to trip. To link off: to pass away, disappear quickly.
1715. Ramsay, Christ’s Kirk Gr., II. xxiv. Maidenheads gaed linkin Aff a’ that day. Ibid. (1725), Gentle Sheph., I. i. I saw my Meg come linkan o’er the lee.
1785. Burns, Addr. to Deil, xx. Some luckless hour will send him linkin, To your black pit. Ibid. (1790), Tam o’ Shanter, 150. Ilka carlin … linket at it in her sark!
1882. Jas. Walker, Jaunt to Auld Reekie, etc. 21. The hours gaed linking by.
1893. Stevenson, Catriona, 63. Ha’e … this billet as fast as ye can link to the captain.
b. causal. To cause to move or circulate rapidly.
1721. Ramsay, To R. H. B., ii. He disna live that canna link The glass about.
Hence Linking ppl. a.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxvi. A man that can whistle ye up a thousand or feifteen hundred linking lads to do his will.
