Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1886-1897, 1952-1993
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SPRIKKLE, v., n. Also sprickle, sprikkel, sprik(k)l, sprikle. [sprɪkl]
I. v. To struggle, wriggle, thrash about, esp. of a fish when taken out of water (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 210, 1908 Jak. (1928), sprikkel, sprikl-, Sh. 1971).Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sketches 53:
He sprickled to get loose, but Tommy was a stiff old customer, and he held him on.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (19 June):
Da ting o' a shiken spriklin' an' pleepin' in his neb.Sh. 1952 New Shetlander No. 31. 6:
Oot cam da Trows, spricklin laek sillicks.
II. n. A struggle, fight; writhing, wriggling; the power to struggle (Sh. 1971). Also fig.Sh. 1889 Shetland News (15 Oct.):
Da whaalp only got da wind o'm, bit an feth yon pat da sprikkl oot o' da cock wance fir a'!Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 234:
His sprickles caused hill-claps an earth-quakes.Sh. 1963 New Shetlander No. 67. 30:
Dir a braa air a sprikkle i' wis yet!Sh. 1993 New Shetlander Sep 29:
Quick, ower quick for da men ta turn me
Fae aa da sight o da blade an da blöd
An da last sprickle ... an fled laek a thing
brunt.
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"Sprikkle v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Aug 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/sprikkle>
