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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.

SNORK, v., n. Also snurk- (Jak.). [snork]

I. v. 1. To snort, to snore, to snuffle (Rxb., Dmf. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; wm., sm., s.Sc. 1971). Also in Eng. dial. Deriv. snorkle, to clear the nose noisily, to snuffle (Watson).Slk. 1807 Hogg Poems (1865) 66:
The horses they snorkit for miles around.Slk. a.1835 Hogg Tales (1837) VI. 335:
Ye hae been lying snorkin' an sleepin' there.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 86:
Let snorkin' snuffers please theirsells In makin' middens o' their bills.Kcb. 1896 Crockett Grey Man xii.:
The old grouting wretch [sow] kept up such a snorking and yellyhooing.

2. To clear the throat, to hawk (Dmf. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), to drink noisily, to gurgle (Bwk. 1942 Wettstein). Deriv. snurk(e)l, to make a rattling or gurgling sound (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).

3. Transf., of things: to make a roaring or explosive sound (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Cf. Snore, v., 3.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan II. ii.:
Hear how she [ship] goes snorking through the water.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 20:
A muckle great, big hivvy motor-laarie cam snorkin an dunnerin bye.

II. n. 1. A snort (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 430; Kcb. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.

2. Nasal mucus (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Hence transf., a snotty-nosed child (Ib.).

3. A noisy drink (Bwk. 1942 Wettstein).