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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

Quotation dates: 1787-1813

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SMUG, v. Also smugg- and freq. form smugger. [smʌg]

1. To go about in a stealthy furtive way (Sh. 1904 E.D.D.). Also smugger (Id.). Adv. smugglins, in a surreptitious manner, secretly. Phr. to go hugger and smugger about anything, to go about anything stealthily or in an underhand way (Id.). Cf. Eng. hugger-mugger, id.Bnff. 1787 W. Taylor Poems 143:
Whiskie we had smugglins brewn Outwittins o' the Gauger.

2. To cuddle, caress in secret.Rnf. 1813 E. Picken Poems I. 176:
We'll cuddle baith amang the fug An' while we hug, an' kiss, an' smug.

[Cf. Eng. dial. and slang, smug, to hide, hush up, of uncertain immediate orig. but ultimately prob. cogn. with Eng. smuggle, Norw. smokla, to skulk, smugi, secret, and Smoo, q.v., Smook, Smudge, with the basic meaning of "creeping in a stealthy manner, acting secretively." The Sh. form is phs. altered from Smook.]

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"Smug v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/smug_v>

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