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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

COGGLE, Cogle, Kog(e)l, Cuggle, Kug(e)l, Kuggle, Kuggal, v.¹ and n. [kɔgl n.Sc., s.Sc.; kog(ə)l I.Sc., m.Sc.; kʌgl Ayr.]

I. v.

1. intr.

(1) To rock, totter, shake (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., kuggle; 1914 Angus Gl., kuggal), “properly of something round or roundish, unable to rest on its foundation; also of anything having an unsubstantial foundation to rest on” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), kug(e)l, kog(e)l). Gen.Sc.Sc. 1824 J. E. Shortreed in Cornhill Mag. (Sept. 1932) 282–283:
We often travelled in an auld low-wheeled phaeton that he had, and a queer sight it was to see it cogglin' first up on ae side and then on the other as we gaed alang the burn or the brae sides.Bnff. 1923 Bnffsh. Jnl. (19 June) 8:
We sat doon [in a boat] an' coggled aboot a' wye.Abd. after 1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherd MS. 56:
Ae time upon a jaw they're cogling high That you wad think their masts wad hit the sky.Ayr. 1995:
It's still cogglin a wee bit.Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poems I. 137:
The wee bit boat — right grand I wyte — Comes coggling to the shore.

(2) With prep. ower: to overturn (Lnl.¹ 1937; Sh., Bnff., Ayr., Dmf., Rxb. 2000s).m.Sc. 1931 J. M. Ressich in Glasgow Herald (8 Aug.):
Ane o' the wheels row'd clean aff an' the cairtie coggled richt ower an' smashed a shaft an' maist o' his gear.Ayr. 1995:
He's cogglet ower aff the seat.

2. tr. “To cause any thing to rock; or move from side to side, so as to seem ready to be overset” (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff.², Abd.² 1937). Also followed by ower.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
To kugl a ting ower.e.Lth. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-head 269, 298:
The Big-house ye maun coggle to get new-roofed an' renovated inside. . . . Mucklebackit coggled himself backward on the hinder feet of his chair. Gsw. 1910 H. Maclaine My Frien' 93:
Cogglin' a thripenny bit on the muscles o' his wrist.

Hence (1) coggled, adj., shaky,.fig. muddled; (2) coggly, cogly, cuggly, adj., unsteady, easily overturned (Slg.³, Lnl.¹ 1937; Sh., Ork., Bnff., Abd., Gsw., Ayr., Dmf. 2000s); also used as an adv.; (3) cogglety, id. (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.).(1) Gsw. 1920 F. Niven Tale that is Told xi.:
Even he, who noted so little, and . . . generally saw it wrong and got a coggled impression, must have seen that Neil had a special friend in our home.Ayr. 1995:
It's a wee bit cogglet.(2) Ags. 1934 (per Ags.¹):
That thing's sittin' gey cogly.Arg. 1917 A. W. Blue Quay Head Tryst 149:
It's amang the wee botheraations ye get knocked cogly. Ye sit on yer hat or get cross wi a ticht collar.Ayr. 1890 J. Service Thir Notandums 25:
At the trance door, Provost Painch's fit took the bass, and he being aye a wee cuggly onyway, he played stot against the door-cheek.Ayr. 1995:
The chair's cogglie.Kcb. 1930 Old Saying (per Kcb.²):
If ye dinna tak care, me and you will dance on a peat and ye'll get the coggly end o't.

II. n.

1. Unsteadiness, lack of balance. Abd. 1956:
'At cairt has an awfu coggle on't. Ye hinna biggit the shaeves richt.

2. Anything that rocks or looks like toppling. Ags. 1868 G. Webster Strathbrachan II. i.:
Tak' aff that cogle o' a bonnet.