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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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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.

SLAIRG, v., n., adj. Also slerg; slarg (Sc. 1880 Jam.); slairk, slerk. [sle:rg]

I. v. 1. tr. (1) To smear, bedaub, bespatter (an object with something wet and dirty) (Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; Cld. 1880 Jam.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Wgt., Dmf., Rxb. 1970); to wash or wipe in a sloppy messy way (Dmf. 1920). Adj. sla(i)rgie, sticky, slimy.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 428:
Slargie stuff, matter of a gluey nature.Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. XIII. 38:
You're slairking your pina' wi' the syrup. I declare, when road repairers are aboot everything's slairkit wi' tar.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 98:
We shauchelt there
stairched, stiff suits, stiff hair slairged owre
wi Brylcreem, sleekit dacklin feet
'fore God's oorie lair.

(2) To slobber or smear (a substance) on or in to something (Lth. 1808 Jam.)Sc. 1724 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 54:
Rab . . . slerg'd the rest o't in his Gab.Dmf. 1920 J. L. Waugh Heroes 93:
I blamed him for slairkin' tar on my wig.

2. intr. To sup liquid noisily, to slobber at one's food (Dmf. 1825 Jam., slerk.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., slairk, Rxb. 1970).

II. n. 1. A quantity of any messy semi-liquid substance, a dollop, smear (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Fif., Rxb. 1970).Sc. 1825 Jam.:
A slairg or slerg o' parritch.Kcb.⁴ 1900:
A slairg o' treacle on a scone.

2. A hasty or inefficient clean or wash, a quick wipe.Dmf. 1915 D. J. Beattie Oor Gate-en' 58:
There's ither things'll get a slairg.

III. adj. Slimy, smeary, messy.Gall. 1843 J. Nicholson Tales 375:
Mer-woman . . . slimy and slarg.