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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SNORL, n., v. Also snorle, snor(r)el; snurl(e), snurr(e)l; snürl (Sh. 1962 New Shetlander No. 60. 26); and with altered vowel snirl (Ork.). [snorl, snʌrl; I.Sc., Uls. + snɪrl]

I. n. 1. A knot, tangle, kink or twist in a thread, rope, etc., a mix-up (Kcb. 1900; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Uls. 1953 Traynor; Sh., n.Sc., Ayr., Gall. 1971); a wrinkling of the brow, a frown (Jak.). Also in Eng. dial. Deriv. snorly, snurli(e), -ey, snirlie, -y, twisted, tangled, knotted (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.).Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 104:
When a pirn of yarn in winding runs into disorder it is then in a snurl or a burrble.Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 35:
It's like a snorly hesp o' ravell'd thread.Bnff. 1852 A. Harper Solitary Hours 69:
A' in a snorl, heels-o'er-gowdy.Abd. 1903 J. Milne Myths 19:
At last it [a “black unshapely” apparition] took the form of a great mass of smoke, curling round and flinging itself into “snorls”, and then it suddenly disappeared.Ayr. 1910 Poets Ayr. (MacIntosh) 233:
Snirly and brittle was the yarn.Ork. 1911 J. Omond 80 Years Ago 18:
If a clew were thrown out on the floor it would stretch out in a straight line without showing any snoods or snirls.Sh. 1924 T. Manson Peat Comm. 185:
Whin you get yon snurl in your broo.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick i.:
Ye'll hae't [ball of wool] cad a' in o' a snorl.Sh. 1962 New Shetlander No. 63. 29:
Minnie's broos a kinda snirlie or traa'n.Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 75:
Twis a taigle o aspen an willow, a snorrel o nettle an ivy, a dubby, glaury hole the like o fit anely a soor, dour warlock wad chuise tae bide in, ...

2. Fig. A predicament, scrape, muddle, confusion (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh., Cai., ne.Sc. 1971).Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 17:
Save us frae that snorl o' snorls, men.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johhny Gibb xxxviii.:
He's wun in till a bonny snorl.Ags. 1889 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) XII. 61:
I ance had a man, an' I had but ane — I never fell into that snorl again.Abd. 1939 Huntly Express (3 March) 3:
If I got into a “snorl” as sometimes the Council must do.Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 63:
Whyles he'd screive an official letter wi the biro tae the tax fowk wha'd made sic a snorrel o his returns.

II. v. tr. and intr., used lit. and fig.: to ruffle or wrinkle, to twist, tangle (s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Sh., ne.Sc., Ags., Bwk., Ayr., Kcb. 1971); of the brows: to become wrinkled, to gather in a frown; to become disordered, to get into confusion. Also in Eng. dial.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 132:
When Northern Blasts the Ocean Snurl.Slg. 1804 G. Galloway Luncarty 48:
John Wright the pin drew at Killdane Which set the Saxons snurrling.Abd. 1895 J. M. Cobban Andaman xiii.:
Leave things as they are, all snorled and ravelled.Abd. 1920 G. P. Dunbar Peat Reek 15:
He twined the claes, an' snorl't the tows.Sc. 1935 W. Soutar Poems 20:
The Amazon Snurl'd in sma' veins upon the breist O' earth.Abd. 1952 Buchan Observer (23 Sept.):
Hard-twining causes the ropes to kink and snorel.Sh. 1965 New Shetlander No. 75. 17:
His broos snirled, and he spat i da fire.