Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SNIRK, v.2, n.2 Also snyirk- (Sh.), snirkle. [sn(j)ɪrk]
I. v. To snort, to wrinkle the nose, to snigger (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., 1942 Zai; Dmf. 1971). Also in Eng. dial. Ppl.adj. snirket, pinched, wizened, puckered, of a face (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Sh., Rxb. 1971).Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 112:
He snirtles wi' his neb and snirks.wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 6:
Snirkle away then, and smirk up yir sleeve,
Ah've had mair than enough, it's time to leave!
Deriv. snirkam, -um, sn(y)irkim, strong drink, sc. which makes the face screw up (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1880 Jam., Sh. 1971).Sh. 1928 Shetland Times (14 July):
Twa glesses o pritty laek snirkim.Sh. 1958 New Shetlander No. 46. 18:
Kirsie an me aye laeks ta hae a grain a snyirkim boot da hoose at Yule.
II. n. A snort, a snigger (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Sh., Dmf., Rxb. 1971).
[Norw. dial. snerka, to shrivel, shrink in, become puckered, snyrkja, to make to shrink, Faer., O.N. snerkja, to wrinkle, screw up (one's face).]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Snirk v.2, n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snirk_v2_n2>
