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.
‡SOORLDAB, n. Also -dah, -dall. [surl′dɑb]
1. The knockout blow, “the kibosh”, esp. in phr. to gie something (someone) its (his) soorldab, to put paid to, to finish, to polish off, to spoil (Fif. 1957; wm.Sc. 1971). Cf. Clourin dab (Clour).Ags. 1964 D. Phillips Hud Yer Tongue 57:
Stushies and Stramashes continue to be the subject of speakalations, and the influence of the soorl-dah is still liable to cause the best-laid plans to “come oot o' the shewin.”
2. A quick tidy-up, a “lick and a promise” (Ags. 1953).
[Orig. obscure. Poss. from Surrl, swirl, + dab, a blow.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Soorldab n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/soorldab>
