Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1832-1844, 1900-1995
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SCUNGE, v., n. Also skunge, scunje, skoonge; skonzj (Jak.); squeenge, skweenge, skweenje and deriv. squeengie (Bch.). [skʌndʒ, sku-, Bch. skwindʒ(i)]
I. v. 1. To prowl or slink about, of a dog looking for food or of human beings "on the mooch", to sponge, scrounge (Uls. 1904 E.D.D.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ayr. 1912 D. McNaught Kilmaurs 298; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 266; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Sh., ne.Sc., em.Sc.(a), wm., sm.Sc. 1969). Hence scunger, squeenger, a prowler, "moocher" (Mry., Bnff., Abd. 1969); skweengy, skweenjee, given to prowling or prying, inquisitive (Abd. 1924 Scots Mag. (Oct.) 56). Also ppl.adj. scungin, skweengin.Abd. 1832 J. Pratt Jamie Fleeman (1912) 35:
Hame wi' you, ye scunging tyke, hame!Dmb. 1844 W. Cross Disruption xxxi.:
Neither will ye scunge after the gentry like M'Quirkie.Per. 1904 R. Ford Hum. Sc. Stories (Ser. 2) 106:
His worship, in skoongin' for siller.Bnff. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 20:
He eese't te gyang scungin aboot wi' a motor bike.Bch. 1925 R. L. Cassie Gangrel Muse 29:
We wud squeengie throwe a' thing 'at ever hid prent.Arg.1 1934:
He's come tae the toon jist tae scunge on his freens.Bch. 1944 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 370:
The tink sits sidelins on the float, a cowt atween the theats, A skweengin' bikk ahin the wheels.Per.4 1960:
He's aye skungin aboot tae see what he can get.Abd. 1966 Huntly Express (30 Sept.) 2:
It's maybe been a scunjin' dog.Arg. 1992:
An then they'd be round there scungin. Abd. 1993:
Oot o here, ye scungin tyke! Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 25:
The rottan's pykit teeth chudder the barley seck,
The skweengin hoolet clooks the moosie's wyme,
The ravenous futtrit sooks the livrock's breist.
2. To rummage about, as in a drawer or cupboard (ne.Sc. 1950).
II. n. One who scunges, a scrounger, sponger, prowler after food, etc. (Ayr. 1910; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 266; Lth., Bwk., Arg., Ayr., sm.Sc. 1969).Kcb.4 1900:
A scunge has a crappin' for a' corns.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse 184:
Jock, ye scunge! Come oot the dresser.Inv. 1948 Football Times (11 Sept.):
"You great big skunge," meaning that you were always on the "mootch".
