Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1935-1957
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SMILE, v., n. Sc. usages:
I. v. 1. As in Eng. Agent n. smiler, a jocular name for a wide-toothed wooden rake for stubble, etc., drawn behind the user by means of a shoulder-sling (n.Sc. 1970), sc. “because it shows its teeth”.Abd. 1950 People's Jnl. (12 Aug.):
Crofter near Kintore used a “smiler” to rake a small field of hay.ne.Sc. 1957 Press & Jnl. (4 Oct.):
“Smiler”, the drag rake used on the stubbles after the stooks were off the fields, on all the smaller places and even long after the introduction of the horse rake.
2. Of a horse: to draw back the lips and bare the teeth as a threat to bite (Abd. 1910–68).
II. n. Of a horse: a grimace or snarl when threatening to bite.Abd. 1935:
I could see him gie a smile, so I keepit weel outower.
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"Smile v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/smile>
