Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1822-1823, 1923
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GURGE, v., n. See also Grudge, v.2, n.2 and Gorge, n., v. [gʌrdʒ]
I. v. 1. intr. To swell, surge, lit. and fig., esp .of water, “to rise or swell up turbulently by reason of being obstructed or stemmed back” (ne.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1955).Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize I. xxiii.:
Marion attempted to laugh scornfully, but her heart gurged within her, and . . . her voice broke out into wild and horrid yells.
2. tr. With up: to choke or stem up, stop up, obstruct, “in the manner of ice in a river” (Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry, Gl. s.v. gurd; Sh.10 1955), or of flood-water (ne.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
The ice is gurgin' up the burn.
II. n. A surge, a violent choking movement, of the heart or emotions.Ayr. 1822 Blackwood's Mag. (Sept.) 320:
The heart of Mrs Goroghan gave a suffocating gurge and gurgle at this intelligence, and she could barely preserve the decorum of silence.
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"Gurge v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Jul 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gurge>
