▪ I. glaik, n. Sc.
(gleːk)
[Of obscure origin; connexion with gleek is suggested by the sense, but its phonological possibility is not evident.
Possibly sense 4, though recorded late, may be the original; the notion of ‘deceit’ has often developed from that of ‘dazzling’. Otherwise sense 4 must be regarded as a distinct word.]
1. pl. Mocking deception; chiefly in the phrases to give († play) one the glaiks, to cheat, swindle one; to get the glaik(s, to be cheated or deceived. Cf. gleek n.2
| 1508 Kennedie Flyting w. Dunbar 497 Greit in the glaykis, gude Maister Gilliam gukkis. 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 1871, I se they haue playit me the glaiks. 1571 Satir. Poems Reform. xxv. 110 This sylit, begylit, They will bot get þe glaikis. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. x. 471 Another writeng sensles, ful of Gukis and Glaikis. 1681 S. Colvil Whigs Supplic. (1751) 59 We did nothing but hunt the glaiks. Note. Hunt the glaiks, go of a fool's errand. 17.. in Herd's Coll. Anc. Sc. Songs (1776) II. 230 She gave me the glaiks when a' was done. 1755 R. Forbes Ajax's Sp. 7 Yet routh o' honour he has got, Ev'n tho' he gets the glaik. 1805 A. Scott Poems (1808) 121 Lads the glaiks did gie ye..when ye were young. |
2. A contemptuous epithet applied to a person.
| [a 1550 Christis Kirke Gr. xxiii, His wyf bad him ga hame, Gib Glaiks.] 1814 Saxon & Gael I. 20 Och sorrow be on the glaik, my own heart will never warm to her. |
3. ‘A child's toy or puzzle’ (Jam.).
[Perh. quot. 1638 for glaxe should come here; see glaiks.]
| 1890 W. Gregor Notes to Dunbar's Poems (S.T.S.) 62, I have seen a toy called ‘the glaykis’, which was composed of several pieces of notched wood fitted into each other in such a manner that they can be separated only in one way. 1896 Crockett Grey Man iii, Why should a grown man..care about the glaiks and puppet plays of a lassie of sixteen? |
4. A flash of light. Also fig.
| 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xii, Gazing, glancing-glasses they are, fit only to fling the glaiks in folk's een. 1819 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd (1827) 175 His een..Ae single styme afore his nose, They couldna see for glaiks. 1823 Galt Entail II. 186 He has glaiks and gleams o' sense about him, that [etc.]. 1830 ― Laurie T. iii. v. (1849) 100 The rising sun was..sprinkling the floor of the forest aisles with glaiks and gleams. |
▪ II. † glaik, v. Sc. Obs.
Also 6 glak.
[f. glaik n.]
1. intr. To gaze wantonly or idly.
| c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) xx. 42 The blenkyne of ane E Ay gart the goif and glaik. c 1590 J. Burel Pass. Pilgr. in J. Watson Collect. (1706) ii. 29 On sick consaits to glaik. |
2. trans. a. To befool, delude. b. ? To pervert, sophisticate.
| 1500–20 [see below]. c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) xi. 33 Get ȝe ane goldin hour to glak thame [women]. 1567 Gude & G. Ballatis (1897) 178 Thocht thow be of Religioun..Ȝit and thow glaik or gagioun The treuth, thow sall cum downe. |
3. To dazzle (the eyes).
| 1819 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd (1827) 3 Thou at his elbuck stood unseen, And wi' thy glamour glaik'd his een. |
Hence † ˈglaiking vbl. n. Also † ˈglaiker, one who ‘glaiks’.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xvii. 4 Sum takkis our littill awtoritie, And sum our mekle, and that is glaiking; In taking sowld discretioun be. a 1605 Polwart Flyting w. Montgomerie 751 Gleyd glaiker, roome raiker. |