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.
Quotation dates: 1734, 1790-1925
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SMUDGE, v., n. Also smudje, smuge; smoo(d)ge. [smʌdʒ; I.Sc. smutʃ]
I. v. To laugh in a suppressed manner, to laugh quietly to oneself, to smirk (Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 197; Lth., Dmf., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; I.Sc. (smoodge), Lnk., Wgt., Rxb. 1970).Rxb. c.1734 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. (1913) 56:
He sliely smudg'd to see them vapoer.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 283:
And a' my life then sit and smudge.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch xvii.:
Smoodging and laughing like daft.Slk. a.1835 Hogg Tales (1837) II. 285:
Ay, ye may smirk and smudge.Abd. 1868 W. Shelley Wayside Flowers 242:
Their faces a' smudgin' wi' glee.Uls. 1879 W. G. Lyttle Readings 80:
I seen her smudjin' an' lauchin'.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (1 April):
Wi couldna help smugin ta wirsels.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 11:
Buffin an smudgin inti eis sel.
II. n. A quiet half-suppressed laugh, a smirk, simper (Lth., Lnk., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Sh., Ork., Lnk., Wgt., Rxb. 1970).Lnk. 1818 A. Fordyce Country Wedding 21:
Rob gi'ed a smudge o' a laugh.Dmf. 1849 J. W. Carlyle Letters (Bliss) 200:
His queer old smudge of inarticulate fun.Bwk. 1876 W. Brockie Leaderside Leg. 27:
It opent its een, an' gae a smudge of a smile.Sh. 1901 Shetland News (9 Feb.):
I heard naethin' bit da smudges o' dee.
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"Smudge v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/smudge>
