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.
MURGIS, n., v. Also murgas; morgauge (Jak.). [′mʌrgɪs]
I. n. 1. An uproar, din, noisy tumult, turmoil (Ork. 1929 Marw.); a dense crowd of people (Sh. 1963).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 14:
An' gin a' the folk i' the coort been shot tae the he'rt, they wad no' meed sic a murgis is they deud.Ork. 1880 R. M. Fergusson Rambles 185:
Dogs bark, men halloo, women “raise a terrible skrach; an' sic a wark, an' sic a murgis, thoo never saw a' thee born days.”Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. v. 173:
This is no verra canny, bit I'll be bünd I'll see what a' this deil's murgis is.Ork. 1931 J. Leask Peculiar People 133:
Bae dis time da gang waar maakin' a bony murgis dunderan an' brogan at da ald door, aneuch tae ding 'er in.
2. A mess, a dirty confusion (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.); soft mud (Marw.; Ork. 1963).
II. v. To mix or pack together in great confusion (Sh. 1963); to grope in mud or the like, to mess about (Ib.).
[Prob. Murg + Ork. -is ending as in Lurgis, Gurgis.]
