Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
MIRACLE, n., v. Also Sc. forms mirak(k)le, mirakill, mirakel, miraikle; marackel, marakkel; meerical; meracle; mer(ri)gle. [′mɪrɑkəl, Sh. mər′ɑkəl]
Sc. usages:
I. n. 1. A spectacle, a thing to be wondered at (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.); a ridiculous sight, an oddity; a physically disabled person (Sh. 1963).Sh. 1879 Shetland Times (12 April):
An' noo shu's mebbe made a marakkel o' hersel' fur life.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (15 Oct.):
Man, if we'd been in a close neeberhid we'd be miraikles.
2. An object of shocked disapproval, esp. applied to a mischievous boy, a scamp. Also attrib.Cai. 1903 E.D.D.:
A witless merrigle. Twa-three merrigle boyags.
3. An amazing assortment, an impressive or astonishing amount.Ayr. 1821 Galt Annals vi.:
We bought a miracle of useful things for the Manse.
4. The phosphorescent gleams seen in the sea. This usage is phs. due to some confusion with Mareel, id., q.v.Ork. 1893 Sc. Antiquary 21:
Every part gave out a light like the light of the meericals.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Miracles: phosphorescence, e.g. in sea, decaying matter, or on raw fish.
II. v. 1. To marvel, to wonder, to be astonished (Fif. 1825 Jam., mergle, 1903 E.D.D., meracle).
2. To hurt or injure so as to cause lasting physical disability, to maim (Sh. 1963).Sh. 1896 J. Burgess Lowra 24:
I'll laern dee ta fling staens an mirakkle da pör bits o geese!Sh. 1906 T. P. Ollason Spindrift 18:
Get up an' be aff hom' ta dy midder, doo scamp, afore I marackel dee.Sh. 1924 T. Manson Peat Comm. 207:
Da bairn is maybe been mirakled i da inside, sprung himsell, fur aa at we ken.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 27:
“Lass, lass,” says I, “doo's shurly mirakilled desell.”
