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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.

SMERGH, n. Also sme(e)r-, smear-; smerk-; smerv-; smeeth-; smyach (Cai. 1904 E.D.D.), smeuch. [†smerx; ne.Sc.′smi:r-]

†1. Bone-marrow (Sc. 1755 S. Johnson Dict. s.v. marrow; n.Sc. 1808 Jam.), pith. Comb. smerkerien, smair-caryin (S.D.D.), the spinal marrow (Fif. 1825 Jam.). For the form cf. Merkerin. Deriv. smervie, -y, misprinted smewy (ne.Sc. 1808 Jam.), and smertry (S.D.D.), of food: full of pith or substance, having savour and succulence. Also fig.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 115, 125:
Nae henny-beik that ever I pree Did taste so sweet or smervy unto me. . . [They] ca'd their cutties at the smervy bree.Ags. 1818 G. Beattie John o' Arnha' (1883) 186:
They steer'd and pree'd the smervy gruel.Bnff. 1853 Banffshire Jnl. (23 Aug.):
She smells the smervie drappie, O.

2. Fig. Pith, energy, vigour, vitality, of body or mind, spirit (Cai. 1970, smeuch).Abd. 1768 in A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 6:
Our sells are neiper-like, I warran, For sense and smergh.Edb. 1798 D. Crawford Poems 49:
For youth an' smergh will stay wi' nane.Cai. 1921 T.S.D.C.:
Ye hae nae smeuch in ye.Now only in deriv. smerghless, smear-, smeer-, adj., of persons: lacking in spirit or energy, sluggish, feckless, stupid (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1970); of things: vapid, insipid, uninteresting (Abd. c.1785 J. Skinner Amusements (1809) 102).Abd. 1748 R. Forbes Ajax 15:
Syne wi' my targe I cover'd him, An' sav'd his smeerless saul.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 17:
He hadna been sae smearless at the trade.Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 352:
My smearless sangs ha'e ne'er had hap Her notice to engage.Kcd. 1822 G. Menzies Poet. Trifles (1827) 81:
The chiel, by Nature stamp'd a cuif, Wi' smerghless saul an' brainless roof.Ags. 1873 D. Ogilvy Poems 127:
A smeerless cutty wha scouthers the cakes.Kcd. 1894 J. & W. Clark Leisure Musings 95:
Sure he must be a smerghless stock.Abd.¹ 1929:
A smearless body, she'll niver mak' saut tae her kail.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xii.:
Smeerless washy dirt like 'at Frinch clairet.