Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GLEE, v., n.1 Also gli.
I. v. To shine, glitter, glisten (Ork.5 1954): “espec. of fat shining on the top of soup, etc.; e.g. ‘It was just gleean wi' fat'” (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De water glis i' de sore.Ork. 1949 “Lex” But-end Ballans 9:
Sheu said, her een wae tears gleean, Me sheulder wae neuralgia's sweean'.
II. n. “An oily, smooth, shining patch on water caused by throwing out chopped limpets, etc., as bait to allure ‘sillocks', etc., to the rocks” (Ork. 1929 Marw.); “fatty stuff, film or streak of fatty substance on the top of water” (Sh. 1908 Jak. 1928)).
[Norw. dial. gly, soft, loose slime on fish, glya, slime, transparent mass, O.N. gljá, to glisten, shine.]
