Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SMOO, v., n. Also smue, smew-; smyoo, smju, smeeo and freq. form smoos. [sm(j)u]

I. v. 1. intr. or refl. To move in a furtive way, slink, sneak, prowl about like a dog, to slip stealthily away (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., smue, 1908 Jak. (1928), smju; Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1963); to squeeze through a narrow opening, insinuate oneself in some direction (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 201, 1866 Edm. Gl.; Ork. 1970). Also in freq. form in vbl.n., ppl.adj. smoosan, creeping, skulking (Marw.); smooin, sly, sneaking (Ork. 1845 Stat. Acc.² XV. 96). Hence smoosie, adj., slyly inquisitive, “nosey” (Ork. 1958).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 30:
Vile, smoosan', ferry-l'upan' whelps, that gong gleyan' aboot a honest man's hoose.Sh. 1888 Edmonston & Saxby Home of Naturalist 184:
I wis smooen me ower da stiggie into da strodie.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He smjud him aff.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
What's he gaan smooan aboot there for? Often used of a dog foraging for food.

2. tr. To slip (a garment) off or on, to ease or insinuate (something) over one's head, on one's leg or the like (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 201). Hence smewy, smjui, n., a flannel jacket, a singlet, a pull-over, slip-on (Sh. 1866 E.D.D., smewy), “a woollen undershirt, a singlet” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., smjui). Cf. Smook, v., 2.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
To smju doon de leg o' de sokk.

II. n. A gap in a wall to allow the passage of sheep (Ork. 1929 Marw., smeeo), also smyoo-hole, id.; a covered drain (Ib.); a narrow passage between two fences, a small sheepfold (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), smuga) Deriv. smoothy, a hiding-hole, a narrow passage (Marw.).