Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 1 lúcan (pres. ind. 3 sing. lýcð), 3 luken, 5 lowke, 7–9 lowk, 9 look, luke, louk. Pa. t. 1 léac, 3 læc, leac, pl. 1 lucon, 3 luken. Pa. pple. 1 locen, 4 lokyn. [A Com. Teut. str. vb.: OE. lúcan = OFris. lûka, MDu. lûken, OHG. (er-, ûz-)liuhhan (MHG. lûchen, liechen, mod.G. dial. liechen to pull), Goth. (us-)lûkan to draw (a sword). Some regard the root (pre-Teut. *leug-) as identical with that of Lith. lúszti, láužyti to break, Skr. ruj to shatter.]
1. trans. To pull up or out. Now only dial., to pull up (weeds); to weed (corn).
a. 1000. Boeth. Metr., xii. 28. (Sedgefield) Swa swa londes ceorl of his æcere lycð yfel weod moniʓ.
c. 1205. Lay., 29072. Seiles heo up droȝen,… luken rapes longe. Ibid., 29661. Up he læc þene staf, þat water þer after leop.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2128. Ichulle leoten luken & teon þe tittes awei of þine bare breosten.
c. 1275. XI Pains Hell, 136, in O. E. Misc., 151. Snakes heore eyen lukeþ.
a. 1400. Octavian, 1274. Whan his swyrde was y-brokyn, A Sarasyns legge hath he lokyn, Therwyth he can hym were.
1483. Cath. Angl., 221/2. To Lowke (or weyde), rvncare, sarculare.
1674. Ray, N. C. Words, 31. To Lowk; i. e. to weed Corn, to look out weeds.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Words, Look, louk, to weed, clear.
† 2. intr. To burst out. Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 30274. Þa isah he of Brien his teres ut luken.
Hence Louking vbl. sb., weeding. Also Louker, one who weeds.
14[?]. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 697/25. Hic runcator, lowker.
1491–2. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 159. Pro le lukkyng jus Spring apud Thonnokmyre.
1624. Best, Farm. Bks. (Surtees), 156. July 20. Reckoned with Leonard Goodale, pd him for his mowing, and his wife lowkinge and haymakinge. 12s. Ibid. (1641), 142. Lookers have … 3d a day.
