Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

SMYTE, n. A somewhat contemptuous term for a collection of people, esp. children, or small objects (Rnf. c.1850 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) S. 103), freq. also in deriv. forms smyteral (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 171), smytrie, smytery, id. (Bnff., Abd. 1970). [sməit]Ayr. 1786 Burns Twa Dogs 76:
A smytrie o' wee, duddie weans.Lnk. 1818 Scots Mag. (Aug.) 155:
Out cam sic a smytrie o' wee white dogs.Hdg. 1908 J. Lumsden Th' Loudons 22:
An, as for flaes, we kill'd a' that we catch'd — Tho' troth to speak a smytrie got awa.Abd. 1923 Swatches o' Hamespun 7:
Hen'erson's fowk hiv a leeterty o' smytery o' craiters.Abd.¹ 1929:
A lot o' smytrie amon' the tatties.