Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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SNUG, adj., n.¹, v.¹ Also snog(g), snowg (Cai.), snyug; erron. shog. Sc. forms and usages. [snʌg, Sh. Snjʌg]

I. adj. 1. Smooth, sleek, close-cropped (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh., Ork. 1971); bare, scant (Jak.).Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. i. ii.:
He kames his hair, and gaes right snug.Ork. 1757 Session Papers, Galloway v. Morton (12 Nov.) 125:
The Grain in Orkney is now a great deal snugger, and better cleaned, than it was.Sh. 1958 New Shetlander No. 48. 16:
"The men were said to wear a little but the women nothing at all." "Weel, I tink dat's mebby juist snyug anyoch." Robert was never one to condemn wholly.

2. Neat, trim, tidy (Ork., Cai. 1971). Now obsol. or dial. in Eng.Sh. 1715 News Letters 1715-16 (Steuart 1910) 65:
There was somthing very shog [sic] and nyet in the apanages of the regement.Ork. 1796 Session Papers, Balfour v. Kirkwall T.C. (9 March) 38:
A snug horse with a small load will pass through it.Arg. 1914 J. M. Hay Gillespie i. xii.:
I ken ye'll keep things snog.Ork. 1968 M. A. Scott Island Saga 140:
Straw, tied up in "winlins" — or bundles — or "snog" corn, ready for the kiln and the mill.

3. Held close and firm.Ork. 1968 M. A. Scott Island Saga 94:
Flung oot straight as an arrow, keepan the wand snog.

II. n. One of the compartments in the tap-room of an old-fashioned inn (Kcb. 1971). Cf. Eng. dial. snug, a small private room in an inn or public-house.Sc. 1891 Scottish Leader (18 Sept.) 5:
He came out of one of the 'snugs' or boxes.

III. v. Only in deriv. snugger, to snuggle, to nestle, to cuddle down (Mry. 1925). Cf. Eng. dial. snug, id.