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: 1804-1825, 1897-1955
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SNUIT, v., n. Also ne.Sc. forms sneet, snite, snyte, and derivs. snitel, snitelich; sneeter, snyter (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 172–3). [snyt; ne.Sc. snit, snəit]
I. v. To move about or work in a lazy, careless or stupefied manner, to laze about, to be listless, at a loose end (Abd. (snyte), Fif. (snuit) 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 172–3; Abd. 1929, snitel; Abd. 1971, snyte(r)). Ppl.adjs. sneet(er)in, snyterin, snitelin, indolent, stupid at work, dilatory, pottering (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 173, sneet(er)in; Abd. 1971, snyterin); snuittit, stupid-looking, as if tipsy (Lth. 1825 Jam.).Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 109:
Whan dytin, an' snytin, A word frae him's a cure.Fif. 1825 Jam.:
He was gaun snuittin doun the street, He cam snuittin in.Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. 56:
Come awa', then; fat are ye sneeterin' there at?Abd. 1905 W. Watson Auld Lang Syne 155:
He's aye snitelichin aboot an' finin' faut aboot naething ava.Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS. iv.:
Min' an' nae be snitin' by the road comin' hame.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick iii.:
Neen o' yer sneeterin', deem.
II. n. 1. The act of loitering, lazing about, or working lazily and unskilfully (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 172–3).
2. A slow, stupid, indolent or unskilful person (Ib.).Abd. 1930:
He's an aff-settin' snite.
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"Snuit v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snuit>
