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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.

SNUIL, n., v.¹, adj. Also snü(o)l, snøl(l), sn(e)ule, snull, snool; sneel, sneill; snoil. [snøl, snɪl; ne.Sc. snil]

I. n. 1. A spiritless, cringing, abject or cowardly person (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Uls. c.1840 W. Lutton Montiaghisms (1924); Kcb. 1900; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Uls. 1929; Sh., Ags. 1971); a mean, furtive or underhand person or animal (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl., 1953 Traynor); a lazy, inactive person (Abd. 1825 Jam., sneill; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 172, sneel; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), snøl(l); Per. 1922; Watson). Also in n.Eng. dial. Dim. snooly(e), id. Comb. snool-like, weak, abject. Also in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 79:
Ye silly Snool, Wae-worth ye'r drunken Saul.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 4:
An' lead ye on, like arrant snools, 'Lang error's road.Gsw. 1807 J. Chirrey Misc. Poetry 102:
Wow, man, but ye're a witless fool, An' only fit to be a snool.Dmf. 1822 Carlyle Early Letters (Norton 1886) II. 51:
We have not the blood of snools in our bodies.Kcd. 1827 G. Menzies Poet. Trifles 81:
Coinless virtue's ay a snool.Bnff. 1853 Banffshire Jnl. (May) 11:
Your Davie's but a smeerless sneel.Bwk. 1862 J. G. Smith Poems 178:
Certes — he was nae feckless snoolye.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 41:
Du püir simple düless saft-head snüol.Ags. 1879 D. Carnegie Lays 91:
I'd put the snooly under ban, An' keep him there.Gall. 1881 J. K. Scott Gleanings 88:
Oot to the fiel's like a henpeckit snule.Edb. 1897 W. Beatty Secretar xxvii.:
I was so wud, not only at the woman herself but at the snool like way Twiddell stood her fleer.

2. A mean, contemptible, stupid or worthless thing.Sc. 1818 S. Ferrier Marriage xxxiv.:
Wha can tell what like ye are wi' that snule o' a thing on ye're head?

3. A snub, an insult (Ork. 1971). Cf. II. 1.Ags. 1921:
Hay gie'd 'im a richt guid sneule.

4. The act of doing something in a lazy manner (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 172).

II. v. 1. tr. (1) To subdue, keep in subjection, cow, humiliate, dishearten, overawe, reprove, snub (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 693; Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1971). Ppl.adj. snooled(-like), abject, dispirited. Cf. I. 1.Sc. 1724 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) III. 184:
To think hou like a Silly fool in sacking Brat they wad thee Snool.Ayr. 1791 Burns O, for ane and twenty ii.:
They snool me sair, and haud me down.Peb. 1817 R. Brown Comic Poems 26:
Five great misfortunes ever filled His snool'd-like clownish head.Ayr. 1822 Galt Entail xvi.:
I could na suffer to see her snooled and cast down any longer by every fat-pursed wife that would triumph and glory in a new gown!Slk. a.1835 Hogg Tales (1837) II. 313:
And now we will snool the goodman.Lnk. 1880 Clydesdale Readings 83–4:
A' the while livin' the life o' a snooled doug in your ain hoose at hame.

(2) With at: to sneer at, to mock, make a fool of.Dmf. 1874 R. Reid Moorland Rhymes 55:
Ane that snool't at sic-like gear.Rnf. 1878 C. Fleming Poems 240:
Aft snooled at, and laughed at mak's pleasure to fade.

2. intr. To submit tamely, cringe, sneak, act in a mean, underhand or spiritless manner (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Gall. 1904 E.D.D.); tr. to carry out (a purpose) furtively or deceitfully. Now chiefly liter.Ayr. 1786 Burns Bard's Epitaph i.:
Owre blate to seek, owre proud to snool.Kcb. 1815 J. Gerrond Poems 102:
Nor snool, nor make humble oblation.Gsw. 1860 J. Young Poorhouse Lays 54:
I ne'er snool'd tae dejection.Rxb. 1880 T. Watts Woodland Echoes 61:
[To] snool at yer heels like a cur in the dark.Abd. 1882 W. Forsyth Writings 25:
They snool't their heartless business throu'.Sc. 1935 W. Soutar Poems in Scots 29:
Doun he snools To death — but nane liggs in the mools.

3. To show want of energy, to loaf or idle about in a shiftless way, to move slowly and lethargically (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 172). Ppl.adj. sneelin, lazy, without energy (Ib.).Dmf. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (June) 281:
Snooling amang rags and ram horns, with gypsies.Kcb. 1828 W. McDowall Poems 29:
But here 'mang wool, I weary snool, Like ony servan' lass.Fif. 1886 W. Wilson Echoes of Anvil 44:
A month snooled by.Ags. 1893 Arbroath Guide (15 April) 3:
Are ye no black affrontit to be seen snoilin' there?Lnk. 1895 W. Stewart Lilts 105:
Upon my word, ye snool an' cheep.Lth. 1928 S. A. Robertson With Double Tongue 13:
Here's truth, gae preach or pen it, Ye'll get nocht if ye stand and snule.

¶III. adj. Cowed, in subjection, poss. a reduced form of snooled.Abd. 1814 P. Buchan Recreation 50:
Although ye keep me ne'er sae snool.