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.
SKUR, n. Also skurr, scurr; skor(r) (Jak.). Derivs. skurro (Ork.); scurrick, skurrik, skorek. [skʌr, -o, -ək; Sh. Skʊr]
1. A cleft or fissure in a rock or among rocks, a deep chasm in the sea-bed off-shore (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 199), specif. one where there are good fishing-grounds (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1970).Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 69:
A muckle grey silkey lyin sleepin i' da scurrick o' da stane.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 121:
Fu' teet they stoored ower brae an' skurro.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (24 June):
We're juist i' da e'e o' a skurr.
2. The boundary between two inshore fishing-grounds (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1970).
[In sense 1. from Norw., O.N. skor, a hollow, cleft, chasm. Sense 2. is poss. a different word, from O.N. skǫr, an edge, boundary.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Skur n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 3 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/skur>
