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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

SMAIRT, adj. Also smert. Sc. form and usages of Eng. smart. See P.L.D. § 41.1.(2). As in Eng., in derivs. (1) smarter, smerter, n., a lively and efficient person, one who is quick to understand and act (Cai., m.Sc. 1970); (2) smartie, n., id. Gen.Sc.

Sc. form of Eng. smart. Also compar. smerter.Dundee 1991 Ellie McDonald The Gangan Fuit 38:
" ... Ye maun think yer smert, but I wadnae craa.
Whan it comes tae anatomy, yer brehns
is in yer feet." Man, whit a coup d'etat.Dundee 1996 Matthew Fitt Pure Radge 8:
straucht an smert
the ba is lowsed
sherp as a skelf
burlin aa weys
a buhlittAyr. 2000:
She's a lot smerter nor me.

Sc. usages:

(1) Ags. 1929 Scots Mag. (May) 148:
She'd been a smerter a' her days.Dmb. 1931 A. J. Cronin Hatter's Castle iii. ix.:
Gad! but she was a smarter . . . as clever as you make them.(2) Bnff. 1927 Banffshire Jnl. (18 Jan.) 5:
Ellen is a smartie Never kent tae hesitate.Abd. 1930 N. Shepherd Weatherhouse 294:
She's done well for herself, Stella has, she's a smartie.