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: 1825, 1884-1931
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SLAURIE, v., n., adj. Also slarrie, slawrie, slaurry; sclaurie. [′slǫre]
I. v. 1. To daub or splash with mud or the like, to besmear, dirty one's clothes (Fif., 1825 Jam.; Kcd. c.1850; Slg., wm.Sc., Kcb. 1970). Also fig.Ayr. 1904 E.D.D.:
The weans have slauried the butter on the table.Ags. 1921 V. Jacob Bonnie Joann 16:
Favours sclarried on sinfu' heids.Sc. 1931 H. McDiarmid First Hymn to Lenin 39:
She was sae tashed and lightlied by the wave Oot o' my recognition and slarried by The infernal sly.
2. Fig. To scold, berate, vilify, call names.Fif. 1825 Jam.:
To sclaurie one like a randy beggar. Poor sklintin Geordie wha sclauried an' grain'd.
II. n. 1. A smear, smudge, a daub of any soft sticky substance (Slg., Ayr., Kcb. 1970).Gsw. 1884 Scottish Reader (21 June) 39:
Gi'en its lips a streak o' red paint, an' it's e'ebroos a slarry o' coal-tar.Ayr. 1904 E.D.D.:
You've an unco slaurie o' jelly on your plate.
2. A slovenly untidy person, a slattern (Rnf. 1917 Thistle (May) 95).
¶III. adj. Befouled, dirty (Rnf. 1837 Crawfurd MSS. XI. 337), poss. an inaccurate definition for I. 1.
[Appar. from Mid.Eng. slory, Eng. dial. slurry, to dirty, besmear, revile, related to Eng. slur, blot, smear.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Slaurie v., n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/slaurie>
