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: 1912
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SMUE, v.1, n.1 Also smoo; smow (Sc. 1887 Jam.). [smu:; Ork. smju:]
I. v. To smile in a placid, bland or ingratiating manner, to smirk (Fif., Lth., Dmf., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Ork. 1970); to laugh in a suppressed or furtive way, “in one's sleeve” (Lth., Dmf., Rxb. Ib., smue). Also in Yks. dial.Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables 11:
Blithe, Nature smoo'd; the traiveller, a' richt, Noo gratefu' glanced up to the gledd'nin licht.
II. n. A placid benign smile (Fif., Lth. 1825 Jam.).
[Prob. a variant with extended meaning of Smoo. See note to Smudge.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Smue v.1, n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/smue_v1_n1>
