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: 1898-1908
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SMUIL, n., v. Also smule; smell (Jak.); smill; smyle, smijll (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), smoil-. [smɪ, smuil]
1. n. Gen. as a coll. sing.: bits, fragments, smithereens (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1970). Freq. in phr. in smill. Also in intensive forms smuilter, sm(o)(i)lter, smilder, id., a collection of small things or creatures (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 201, 1914 Angus Gl.).Sh. 1898 Shetland News (26 Feb.):
Niver may I sin if I dünna lay yon bottle in smill atween your haands.Sh. 1900 Shetland News (17 Nov.):
I houp he's no fa'n an' laid her in smyle.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He laid it i' smilder, smilters; to geng i' smilder.
II. v. To break into fragments, smash to pieces, crumble (Ork. 1880 Jam.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Vbl.n. smellins, smillins, fragments (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[Norw. smule, smulder, fragment, particle, smule, smuldre, to crush, crumble. The phonology suggests influence from Norw. mylja, to crush, and poss. Sc. millin, Muild, v., Muilder.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Smuil n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/smuil>
