Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

MURGEON, n., v. Also murgon; murjin. [′mʌrdʒən]

I. n. 1. A grimace, a wry mouth, a distortion or affected expression of the features (ne.Sc. 1935 Sc. N. & Q. (Ser. 3) XIII. 24); an exaggerated, affected or grotesque pose or contortion of the body, a caper (Slk. 1825 Jam.). Hence murgeon-maker, one who mimics or mimes with exaggerated gestures.Sc. c.1708 Prince of Tartaria his Voyage to Cowper 7:
The Bride and her Virgins which were of the profession of Dulse-gatherers, had many excellent murgeons with their gallants.Sc. 1735 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) III. 131:
They were surrounded to the Gallows, Making sad reufu' Murgeons.Rxb. 1808 A. Scott Poems 120:
Meg wast the gate, wi' murgeons prim, . . . that straught and tall is.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality vii.:
Neither shall Cuddie Headrigg, . . . at least wi' his auld mither's consent, make murgeons or Jenny-flections . . . in the house of the prelates and curates.Ayr. 1826 Galt Last of Lairds xxx.:
He's . . . whiles wringin' his hauns, and whiles makin' murgeons as if he was speakin'.Slk. 1829 Hogg Shepherd's Cal. xii.:
Do you think she didna ken that ye saw her, and was making a' thae fine murgeons to throw glamour in your een, and gar you trow she was an angel?Abd. 1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 281:
He keeps a curn o' queynies and a wheen widdy-fu's, and gars them fussle, and loup, and mak murgeons, to please the grit fowk. Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 43: He got haud o' a stick an' began to ledder the breeks as hard's he cud. Bit he seen saw 'at there wis nae murjins, an' he took haud o' the legs, an lo! an' behold he hid naething.

2. In pl. = discontented mutterings. grumbling (Sc. 1808 Jam.); ¶muttering in gen., a murmur, whisper.Abd. 1857 G. Macdonald Songs (1893) 51:
The waukin' man i' the sleepin' man's lug Would rown a murgeon o' power.

II. v. 1. tr. and intr. To mock, to mimic with exaggerated posturing and gestures (Sc. 1808 Jam.); to utter or express with vehemence or unrestrainedly.Ayr. 1789 D. Sillar Poems 109:
When he was hung up i' the woody, I murgeon'd him, an' danc'd cucuddy, Tae see him girnin'.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 15:
While thus the furious folk o' Fife At Paip and idol in their strife, Were murgeonin' and mockin'.s.Sc. 1836 Wilson's Tales of the Borders III. 304:
How he . . . murgeoned his Cameronian aiths.Lnk. 1860 W. Watt Poems 344:
Ye'd gie thae pawkie loons a clearin' Wha murgon us wi' gibin', jeerin', And gar us greet.Bnff. 1891 Banffshire Jnl. (24 March):
But wi' my mither he sat down to crack, And I murgeoned at him ahint his back.

2. To mutter; to complain, to grumble (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Ppl.adj. murgeoned, ? complained of, despised, contemned. This meaning is doubtful.Abd. 1832 A. Beattie Poems 135:
You'll gang frae hame now like yoursel', — Not jogging on yon murgeon'd pell.