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: 1822, 1932
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SNEUG, n. Also snju(i)g, snjoog, sniog, and in dim. forms snju(i)gi, snjoogi, snewga. Any hump-like projection, the shoulder or slope of a hill, a crag, a round hill-top, esp. as a place-name (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1971), also transf. to persons and animals (see 1932 quot.). Hence ppl.adj. snewgit, having a hump. [snjug, snjɔg]Sh. 1822 S. Hibbert Description 588:
His gutcher guid before, his father guid before, and he must expect to go over the Sneug too [in Foula].Sh. 1932 J. M. E. Saxby Trad. Lore 195:
"Snewga," any animal who had a habit of humping itself (like bucking) might bear that name; "for siccan a snewgit crater!" will be said of a person slouching along with ungainly lifting of his shoulders. A small heogue (hillock) benorth Widwick is like a hump, and is known as "The Snewga o' Widwick."
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"Sneug n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/sneug>
