Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1778-1790, 1884-2004
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SLUNGE, v., n. Also slounge, sloonge. [slʌn(d)ʒ, Lnk., s.Sc. slun(d)ʒ]
I. v. 1. intr. (1) To make a plunging movement or noise, "to make a noise in falling, or being thrown, into water" (Lnk. 1825 Jam.; Cai., Inv., m. and s.Sc. 1970), to plump or flop down heavily (Bwk., Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 202, 1923 Watson W.-B., sloonge; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 266).m.Sc. 1899 J. Buchan Grey Weather 206:
Mr. Airthur I had let slunge ower the heid and my ain legs were in the water.Sc. 1935 W. Soutar Poems in Scots 49:
The weet sloung'd fae the south.Sc. 1954 Bulletin (30 Aug.) 4:
Salmon throw themselves into the air in aimless, noisy jumps which anglers term "slunging."
(2) to wade through water or mud in a clumsy, splashing way, to blunder or plunge along (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 293); to dabble or splash about.Ayr. 1790 J. Fisher Poems 93:
Gaed ye to Heli's well e'er slunging?Rxb. 1952 J. Byers Liddesdale 138:
I "slunged" on in no holiday mood.
2. tr. To souse (something) with water (Inv., m. and s.Sc. 1970); to plunge or throw water over (something or someone), douche, swill oneself or any object (Lnl. 1947).Dmb. 1931 A. J. Cronin Hatter's Castle i. iii.:
I slunge myself in cold water.Lnk. 1951 G. Rae Howe o' Braefoot 13:
Slunge a pickle water ower yon mangy beast.
II. n. 1. A plunging motion, a headlong fall, a splash made by the fall of a heavy object into water (Cld. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 266; em.Sc. (a), Dmb. 1970); transf. a heavy fall of rain, in phr. a slounge o' weet (Cld. 1825 Jam.), and fig. To play slunge, to plunge, to go plump.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 213:
Some people passing, by chance heard the slunge.Fif. 1884 G. Bruce Reminisc. 271:
She took some slounges, her lee bow gaun doon, and the ballast beginning to shift.Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 108:
The body played slunge in a peat-hag.Sc. 1926 H. M'Diarmid Drunk Man 33:
Like a thunder-plump on the sunlicht, Or the slounge o' daith on my dreams.
2. A soaked or drenched condition (Cld. 1825 Jam.).
3. A sink with an open waste-pipe (Abd. 1970).
4. A quick rinse or a swill (round) with water.Gsw. 1987 Peter Mason C'mon Geeze Yer Patter! 84:
Ah'll jist go an' gie ma face a wee slunge. I'll go and splash water on my face to freshen up.Edb. 2004:
Just gie the dishes a slunge an Ah'll pit them in the dishwasher later.
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"Slunge v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Mar 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/slunge>
