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.
SKUR, n. Also skurr, scurr; skor(r) (Jak.). Derivs. skurro (Ork.); scurrick, skurrik, skorek. [skʌr, -o, -ək; Sh. Skʊr]
1. A cleft or fissure in a rock or among rocks, a deep chasm in the sea-bed off-shore (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 199), specif. one where there are good fishing-grounds (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1970).Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 69:
A muckle grey silkey lyin sleepin i' da scurrick o' da stane.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 121:
Fu' teet they stoored ower brae an' skurro.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (24 June):
We're juist i' da e'e o' a skurr.
2. The boundary between two inshore fishing-grounds (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1970).
[In sense 1. from Norw., O.N. skor, a hollow, cleft, chasm. Sense 2. is poss. a different word, from O.N. skǫr, an edge, boundary.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Skur n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 22 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/skur>
