Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SINACLE, n. Also sinnacle. [′sɪnɑkl]
1. A sign, vestige, trace, a grain, small quantity (Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems Gl.).Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 15:
Never a sinacle of life was there.
2. A person of a vicious disposition (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 155, sinnacle), appar. the same word as 1. above with transferred meaning, sc. one who is characterised by or notorious for some (bad) trait, a bad example. Cf. Moniment.
[O.Sc. signakle, c.1500, Mid.Eng. sygnacle, O.Fr. si(g)nacle, Late Lat. signaculum, a small sign, mark.]
