The Fyket

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1L+2L dance across between 1M and 2M, cast round partner back to places and 1s+2s set
9-16 1s+2s+3s all chase round clockwise back to places
17-24 1s+2s+3s dance Allemande
25-32 3s cast down 2 places while 1s lead up to top and cast 1 place to face 1st corners, set to 1st corner and set to 2nd corner
33-40 1s dance reel of 3 on opposite sides giving RSh to 2nd corners and cross RH to 2nd places

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

The Fyket - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

The origin lies in the Scots verb "fyke", which has been recorded since at least the early eighteenth century. It describes restless or uneasy movement, often linked to discomfort, eagerness, or impatience. In some contexts it was used to describe a horse that prances or refuses to stand still. The related adjective "fykin" means fidgety or active, and the phrase "fyking fain" conveys being restless with eagerness.

The word appears in literary sources such as Allan Ramsay's Tea-Table Miscellany of 1724, where it is used to describe someone moving about in a restless manner. Variants of the spelling include "fike", "feik", "feyke", and "fik", reflecting regional differences across Scotland and the Northern Isles. The term is also found in northern English dialects, showing its wider use beyond Scotland.

In addition to its use as a verb, "fyke" or "fyket" could function as a noun, referring to a restless person or to the act of fidgeting itself. The word has also been connected with the idea of fussing or unnecessary activity, reinforcing its association with constant movement.

The etymology suggests links to older northern European dialects, though its precise linguistic roots remain uncertain. What is clear is that "fyket" belongs to the Scots vocabulary that preserves distinctive regional expressions of everyday behaviour.