Sc. Forms: 5 sowrok, 6 -ak, 7 -ock; 6 sourak, -och, 8– sourock (8 -uck, 9 -ack, -ick, sourrock, surrock, soorock). [f. SOUR a. Cf. MDu. zuric (Kilian suerick), MLG. sureke (LG. sürken, sürk), WFris. surk.] The common sorrel, Rumex acetosa; also, sheep’s sorrel, R. acetosella.

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c. 1480.  Henryson, Sum Pract. Med., 29. Ane medecyne for þe maw,… with sueit satlingis and sowrokis.

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1549.  Compl. Scot., vi. 67. I sau … sourakkis, that vas gude for the blac gulset.

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1596.  in Analecta Scotica, II. 13. The seid of … sorrelis or sourochis.

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1673.  Wedderburn, Voc., 18 (Jam.). Acetosa, sowrocks.

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1777.  J. Lightfoot, Flora Scotica, II. 1131. Rumex acetosa. The Sowruck…. Rumex acetosella. Sheep’s Sowruck.

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1833.  Galt, Entail, xxxiii. Ye hae been eating sourrocks instead o’lang-kail.

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a. 1879.  T. Ormond, in Edwards, Modern Sc. Poets, 2nd Ser. (1881), 356. Winnelstraes an’ souricks grew On oor lumheid.

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  attrib.  1568.  Skeyne, The Pest (1860), 37. Mixt with thrid part of vater or with rose, or sowrak vatteris.

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1865.  Janet Hamilton, Poems, 222. A bunch o’ surrock seed in his haun’.

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  b.  fig. A sour-tempered person.

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1723.  Ramsay, Fair Assembly, xvi. Ye sourocks, hafflines fool, ha’f knave! Wha hate a dance or sang.

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