Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BLACK SUGAR, —SHOOGIR, n. Liquorice or liquorice juice. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scoticisms 15:
Black Sugar. — Licorice Juice. The inspissated juice of licorice.Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 29:
Blacksugar is the Scotch name for Spanish liquorice.Rs. 1991 Bess Ross Those Other Times 105:
"Well, how much is the black sugars, please?"
"A ha'penny each. You'll get two of them for a penny."w.–s.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Black-sugar, Spanish or Italian liquorice.

Hence black shoogir-waeter, a solution of above in water.Rxb.(D) 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 23/2:
Black shoogir-waeter, a paep [cherry-stone] a sook!