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.
Quotation dates: 1886-1929
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MURR, n.2, v.2 Also mur. [mʌr]
I. n. A small particle or fragment, a morsel (Ork. 1929 Marw.); a small or undersized object, e.g. a potato, fish. Freq. used coll., esp. in phr. sma murr, of a mass of such objects, fragments, "small fry" (I.Sc. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc. 1963), of potatoes (Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 153), hence grice murr, small potatoes fed to pigs (Sh. 1963). See Grice, n.1 Also fig.Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sk. and Poems 75:
A' da idder sma' mur wis staandin' aboot him, wi' dir mooths open, watchin' da performance.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
A lock o' murr, a "gadery " o' murr.Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (31 Dezember):
Da year aye laeves hopps, tho dey sood be smaa murr.Ork.1 1920:
Yin's a peerie murr o a ting thu're gien me.
II. v. 1. To smash into fragments (Sh. 1963).
2. Of butter in the churn: to form into small particles.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Thoo'll hae tae pit in more hot water; hid's no murran.
