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: 1927-1966
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SNIRL, v., n. [′snɪr(ə)l]
I. v. 1. To snigger, to laugh in a suppressed manner (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1971).
2. (1) To sneeze, to sniff, to snort, esp. contemptuously (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also in Eng. dial.; (2) specif. of wind: to blow in gusts, snarl (Bnff. 1971).Bnff. 1966 Banffshire Herald (26 Feb.) 5:
The wind is snell and snirlin', the frost is fell and keen.
II. n. 1. A snigger, a snarl (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Phr. a snirl i' one's nose, a contemptuous wrinkling of the nose. Ppl.adj. in comb. ill-snirled, of children: bad-tempered, peevish (Ork. 1971).Ork. 1927 Peace's Almanac 134:
Dat peerie pistlin' ting, wi' her falderals an' a snirl i' 'er nose.Ork. 1931 Orcadian (7 May):
Whin 'e cam' dere waas a snirl i' 'is nose.
2. A gusty, biting wind (Sh. 1971). Dim. snirly, id. (Sh., Ayr., Kcb. 1971).
3. An impudent youngster (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
[Altered form, with dim. force, of snarl.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Snirl v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snirl>
