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.
Quotation dates: 1805-1900
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†SLIG, v., n. Also sleg-; skleg.
I. v. To lie, fib, practice deceit. Hence adj. sliggy, slegie, sly, deceitful, smooth, unctuous.Rxb. 1805 A. Scott Poems 83:
Soon the serpent's sliggy tongue . . . Did blast primeval pleasure young.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan II. xii.:
Is this a true matter, are ye no sklegging, think ye?s.Sc. 1857 H. S. Riddell Psalms li. 21:
The wurds o' his mooth wer mair saft an' slegie nor butter.
II. n. A lie, a liar, deceiver.Gall. a.1900 “Mulciber Veritatis” Gallowa' Herds 6:
Ye let licht o' the Queen, as if Randie she'd been, Like the King, scape-grace skleg under-vallin.
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"Slig v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 11 May 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/slig>
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