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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JIRG, v.², n.² Also jerg, ja(i)rg, jirk, jurg, gerg, girg, and see Jorg. [dʒɪrg, dʒɛrg]

I. v. 1. To creak, make a harsh grating sound, as of a door on its hinges (Rxb. 1801 J. Leyden Compl. Scot. 345; jarg, 1825 Jam., jerg, 1923 Watson W.-B., jirk, jerg, jairg; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Sh., Arg., Gall. 1959), to work on a creaking piece of machinery. Vbl.n. jirgin(g), jirkin, the noise made by too dry or squeaky shoes when walking (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 283; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 30, jirgin', jirkin'). Also used fig. and tr. = to jar.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 486:
When the bones begin to make a jirging noise, they are on the mending hand.Dwn. 1844 R. Huddleston Poems 66:
On right they drive, some 'thout their shoes, And some in jirgin' leather.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 174:
Ye jairging chaps wha stockings mak', Nae wonder that your hearts should ach.Fif. 1882 S. Tytler Sc. Marriages III. ix.:
She did not so much as know the names of . . . “gergan, long-headed, teuch chaps like Kant and Hegel”.Kcb. 1905 Crockett Cherry Ribband xxxix.:
Ye will mak' some gye dour faces when the beast jirgs ye ower the stanes.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunninghame Verse 113:
Muckle whusperin', noise, and din Frae jirgin buits and cheepin' shune.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 4:
A duist hyit jairgin things, an that menseless road-injin fair garrd mei girrl!Sc. 1933 W. Soutar Seeds in the Wind 25:
His spauls jirg on like murlin' stanes: Crick-crack, crick-crack.

Hence jirger, anything which makes a creaking or grating sound (Arg.³ 1948), in 1883 quot. of a piece of leather; also in pl. jergers, creaking boots (Uls.³ (1929), and comb. jorum-jirger, contemptuous term for a fiddler.Rnf. 1817 R. Tannahill Poems 265:
Gude Pibrocharian, jorum-jirger, Say, hae ye turn'd an Antiburgher?Ayr. 1883 W. Aitken Lays 119:
In wi' a jirger to gar the shae squeal.

2. Of the teeth: to grate, grind, rub together (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai., m.Lth., Kcb. 1959).Sc. 1847 Sc. Farmer (6 Aug.) 631:
The animal grinds its teeth (the country people call it jerking).

II. n. A creaking or grating sound such as is produced by squeaking shoes or a rusty hinge, the act of creaking (Sc. 1825 Jam., jirg, jurg, jerg; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., ja(i)rg, jerg, Rxb.⁴ 1948, jirk; Arg.³ 1956).Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 24:
His legs he twisted in a knot Till smack ane gae a sma' jirk.Slk. 1820 Hogg Winter Ev. Tales II. 42:
Thilk dor gyit ay thilk tother whesk, and thilk tother jerg.Kcb. 1893 Crockett Stickit Minister 148:
The sofa gied an awfu' girg, an' there sat the minister . . . blinkin' . . . like a hoolet.

Hence phr. to play jairg, to jar, make a creaking sound; also fig. to play the jarg on, to play a trick on, make a game of (Upp. Cld. 1825 Jam.).Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 259:
An' yetts play jairg, and dubs play plash.