We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MUG, n.3, v.3 Also mugg (Jak.); mogg (Ib.); and freq. form muggte.

I. n. Drizzling rain freq. accompanied by mist or fog (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Abd., Ags. 1963). Also in Eng. dial.

Hence muggy, muggi (Jak.), muggly, 1. drizzling, wet and misty (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Mry.1 1925; Abd.4 1931, muggly; I. and ne.Sc., Uls. 1963). Now only dial. in Eng.; 2. tipsy, befuddled with drink (Sc. 1825 Jam.).

II. v. To drizzle, esp. when accompanied by misty weather (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Abd. (muggle), Ags. 1963).Abd. 1861 J. Davidson Poems 93:
Muggin' down in gentle drappies Ambrosial vivifyin' dew.
Sh. 1892 Manson's Sh. Almanac:
Da wadder wis dauchin'd a gude dael, an muggled im inta a stumba o wet dagg.
Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick iv.:
It had begun to drizzle. “She's begoot tae muggle,” said Jock Cheyne.

[Mid.Eng. mug, to drizzle, Norw. dial. mugga, id.; Norw. dial. mugg, O.N. mugga, soft drizzling mist.]

19004

snd