… of that ilk

Brian Taylor, the BBC’s political editor reports on David Cameron’s visit to Scotland:

David Cameron said this was his first visit as prime minister to a parliament anywhere. He has yet to go to Westminster. His talks with the opposition leaders were held in Queensberry House, where the second Duke of that ilk crafted and propagated the Union Treaty in 1707.

What does of that ilk mean? The COED says:

2 Scottish, chiefly archaic of the place or estate of the same name.

I suppose that we are to assume that this is a reference to the Duke of Queensberry and that of that ilk is used to mean eponymous. It is known that this is a Scottish expression; it is known too that it is often used to mean simply type as in fascists, racists, and others of that ilk. This latter usage is widely felt to be incorrect, but it is quite widespread. Mr Taylor seems to be using of that ilk correctly but I can’t help feeling that there is a certain element of self-consciousness in his choice of it: ‘We are dealing with Scotland. Here is a Scottish expression that is often misused. I know how to use it properly so I will do so even though it is archaic.’ But is it right for the BBC web site, which is read worldwide, to use archaic expressions? I think not. I have no time at all for dumbing down, but I do feel that archaisms have no place in the language of news reporting.

As for the other question, whether it is right to use ilk to mean type, the first thing to say is that the example that I use above is not my own; it is the first definition given in the COED:

1 a type: fascists, racists, and others of that ilk.

Fowler (3rd edition) says:

The OED has a string of examples of the new uses from 1790 to 1973 but described as ‘erroneous’. Certainly many people are still irritated by the relatively new (and often derogatory) uses. But evidence is accumulating that many writers in Britain and abroad are prepared to press the word into service.

and gives examples from respected authors dated 1986 to 1991.

Comments

[MM]

I thought that in the Scottish meaning it is actually part of the man's title and has to be capitalized...'Captain Michael John Erskine Wemyss of that Ilk' - at least, that's how I've always seen it, though I never investigated its precise meaning.

[Peter Harvey]

That is how it is usually used, but I felt that the Duke of Queensberry of Queensberry House was not worth arguing about.

[Peter Harvey]

Fowler doesn't capitalise it in titles; Guthrie of that ilk.