interrog. phr. (adv.) Sc. Also 6 quhat ra(c)k, quhattrak, quattrack, 9 foutrack. [f. WHAT a.1 (13 b) + RECK sb.1 2.] What matter? what does it matter? Also parenthetically as adv.: For all that, nevertheless.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxviii. 30. Thocht a man haif a brokin bak, Haif he a gude crafty telȝour, quhattrak, That can it cuver with craftis slie.
1535. Lyndesay, Satyre, 3292. The Mers sould find me beif and kaill. Quhat rak of bread!
a. 1586. Montgomerie, Poems (S.T.S.), 280. ‘And thow steill a cow, cairle, thair they will hang the.’ ‘Quattrack, Lord, of that? For anis mon I die.’
1787. Burns, When Guilford good our Pilot stood, ii. But yet, whatreck, he, at Quebec, Montgomery-like did fa’, man.
1808. A. Scott, Poems, 114. Yet they whatreck in population spread.
1825. Jamieson, s.v. Foutrack, One, who hears any unexpected news, exclaims, Foutrack! i. e., Indeed! Is it really as you say?
1847. J. Halliday, Rustic Bard, 164. But yet, what reck?
So Whatrecks (6 quhatt rax, 9 Sc. fatrecks) [WHAT adv. (20) + RECK v. 8 b] in same sense.
1535. Lyndesay, Satyre, 1540 (Bann. MS.). Now quhill the king is sound sleipand, Quhatt rax to steill his box?
1724. Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), I. 108. Her mill into some hole had fawn Whatrecks, quoth she, let it be gawn.
1804. Tarras, Poems, 12. ‘Fatrecks!’ quo’ Will, ‘it needs nae badder.’
