Show Search Results Show Browse

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

SLORK, v., n. Also slurk; slorg (Jam.). [slork]

I. v. 1. intr. To make a slobbering noise when eating or drinking, or in any other connection (Slk. 1825 Jam.; Watson). Also used tr. to suck in (food or drink), to slobber up noisily (Kcb., Rxb. 1921 T.S.D.C.; Lnk., sm. and s.Sc. 1970), or in large mouthfuls (Slk. 1825 Jam.). Ppl.adj. slorkin, slobbering, spluttering.Lnk. 1912 Rymour Club Misc. II. 149:
Ye'll ken the muckle slorkin' hashes Jist by their glowre.
Rxb. 1958 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. 26:
Stop slorkin' and stop ‘clatchin' eer meat'.

2. To reinhale nasal mucus, to sniff or snort through the nose loudly (Kcb. 1921 T.S.D.C.; Lnk., sm.Sc. 1970). Cf. II. 2.

3. To make a squelching noise through being soaking wet, of shoes; of persons: to walk with wide or wet shoes, as through slush (Dmf. 1825 Jam.; Dmf., Rxb. 1970).Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Ma buits were juist slorkin'.

II. n. 1. A noisy sucking in of food or drink (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. XIII. 39; Lnk., sm. and s.Sc. 1970); the quantity so taken, a gulp, “slug”, swig.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 172:
He teuk a geud slurk o' brandy.

2. A loud and prolonged sniff, a snuffling of nasal mucus (Kcb. 1970).Kcb. 1921 T.S.D.C.:
Slork is applied to the sound given out when one's nose requires blowing, but the secretion is “slorked” back into the nasal cavity.

[Orig. imit. Cf. Norw. slurk(e), Swed. dial. slurk(a), Ger. dial schlurk(en), a noisy gulp, to swallow with a gurgle.]

You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.

"Slork v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/slork>

24545

snd

Hide Advanced Search

Browse SND:

    Loading...

Share: