Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1881-1930, 1985-2005
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MIRACULOUS, adj. Also Sc. forms: mirawculous (Sc. 1829 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 274); mirac(k)lous; and curtailed forms mirac(k) (ne.Sc., Per. 1963, Per. 1980s), maroc.
Sc. usages:
1. In a stupefied or incapable condition, esp. from drink, very intoxicated (Sc. 1903 E.D.D.; Abd. 1910, mirac(ulous)). Gen.Sc. Also in n.Eng. dial. Also adv.Lnk. 1881 D. Thomson Musings 175:
The hale lot in a body Had got themsel's mirac'lous fu'.Wgt. 1904 J. F. Cannon Whithorn 107:
Jamie was once taken home in a "miraculous" condition and put to bed.Fif. 1912 D. Rorie Mining Folk 406:
A drunk man, if very drunk, is described as "mortagious", "miracklous", "steamin' wi' drink," or "blin' fou'."Bnff.2 c.1930:
They got mirack as usual, at the back o' the dyke.Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 46:
miraculous Usually, who knows why, pronounced 'marockyoolus', this is a slang term for drunk. Maroc is sometimes heard as a shortened form of this and has nothing to do with tangerines: 'Ah seen him stotin roon Georgie Square, pur [sic] maroc he wis!' Edb. 2005:
He came hame completely mirac.
2. Clumsy, awkward (Cai.9 1939), irresponsible in behaviour, loutish (Cai. 1963).Abd.15 c.1930:
He's a miraclous lump.
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"Miraculous adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/miraculous>
