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.
SLUNGE, v., n. Also slounge, sloonge. [slʌn(d)ʒ, Lnk., s.Sc. slun(d)ʒ]
I. v. 1. intr. (1) To make a plunging movement or noise, “to make a noise in falling, or being thrown, into water” (Lnk. 1825 Jam.; Cai., Inv., m. and s.Sc. 1970), to plump or flop down heavily (Bwk., Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 202, 1923 Watson W.-B., sloonge; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 266).m.Sc. 1899 J. Buchan Grey Weather 206:
Mr. Airthur I had let slunge ower the heid and my ain legs were in the water.Sc. 1935 W. Soutar Poems in Scots 49:
The weet sloung'd fae the south.Sc. 1954 Bulletin (30 Aug.) 4:
Salmon throw themselves into the air in aimless, noisy jumps which anglers term “slunging.”
(2) to wade through water or mud in a clumsy, splashing way, to blunder or plunge along (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 293); to dabble or splash about.Ayr. 1790 J. Fisher Poems 93:
Gaed ye to Heli's well e'er slunging?Rxb. 1952 J. Byers Liddesdale 138:
I “slunged” on in no holiday mood.
2. tr. To souse (something) with water (Inv., m. and s.Sc. 1970); to plunge or throw water over (something or someone), douche, swill oneself or any object (Lnl. 1947).Dmb. 1931 A. J. Cronin Hatter's Castle i. iii.:
I slunge myself in cold water.Lnk. 1951 G. Rae Howe o' Braefoot 13:
Slunge a pickle water ower yon mangy beast.
II. n. 1. A plunging motion, a headlong fall, a splash made by the fall of a heavy object into water (Cld. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 266; em.Sc. (a), Dmb. 1970); transf. a heavy fall of rain, in phr. a slounge o' weet (Cld. 1825 Jam.), and fig. To play slunge, to plunge, to go plump.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 213:
Some people passing, by chance heard the slunge.Fif. 1884 G. Bruce Reminisc. 271:
She took some slounges, her lee bow gaun doon, and the ballast beginning to shift.Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 108:
The body played slunge in a peat-hag.Sc. 1926 H. M'Diarmid Drunk Man 33:
Like a thunder-plump on the sunlicht, Or the slounge o' daith on my dreams.
2. A soaked or drenched condition (Cld. 1825 Jam.).
3. A sink with an open waste-pipe (Abd. 1970).
4. A quick rinse or a swill (round) with water.Gsw. 1987 Peter Mason C'mon Geeze Yer Patter! 84:
Ah'll jist go an' gie ma face a wee slunge. I'll go and splash water on my face to freshen up.Edb. 2004:
Just gie the dishes a slunge an Ah'll pit them in the dishwasher later.
