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.
SMIRK, n.1, v.1, adj. Also dim. or freq. forms smirkle, smircle, smerkle. Sc. forms and usages:
I. n. 1. A pleasant smile, a friendly expression, in earlier Sc. without the pejorative overtones of modern Eng. usage (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Also fig. Adj. smirkie, -y, having a good-natured, amiable expression, friendly-looking (s.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 170), in good health or fettle, well-looking, “on top of the world” (Gregor). Combs. smirkie-faced (s.Sc. 1825 Jam.), smirky-like, id.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) H. 25:
Rejoicing in the artfu' Height, How smirky look'd the little Wight.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II.:
[To] pace awa' wi smirky face In siller or in gowden lace.Per. a.1825 Donald & Flora 116:
Tis night — an the moon's blushing smircles appear.Lnk. 1844 J. Lemon St Mungo 62:
Auld mither nature, wi' a smirk in ilk feature.Edb. 1856 J. Ballantine Poems 56:
Auld Barber Watty, sae smirky an' waly.Per. a.1886 Harp Per. (Ford 1893) 283:
O! wha is yon carle, that's sae smirkie An' looks sae weel-pleased ower me a'?Abd. 1921 Swatches o' Hamespun 10:
Meggie keekit ower her shooder fell smirky like.
II. v. To smile in a pleasant friendly way, to beam, to wear a smiling amiable expression, to have a roguish or flirtatious smile (Sc. 1880 Jam.). Also in freq. or intensive form smirkle, id., “to laugh in a suppressed way” (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Also fig. Adv. smirkingly, in a smiling way, laughingly.Sc. 1702 Atholl MSS. (30 Sept.):
I have gott home our picturs I'm extreemly pleased with yours I can never looke at it but it makes me laugh it smirkles so in my face.Ayr. 1786 Burns Inventory 54:
My sonsie, smirking, dear-bought Bess.Slk. 1822 Hogg Tales (1874) 679:
Wha's your mistress, my little bonny dow? You're nodding and smirking, are you?Sc. 182–4 Scott St Ronan's W. ii.:
Mony a bonny smirking lassie.Sc. 1825 Lord Derwentwater in Child Ballads No. 208 A. iii.:
The very first line that my lord did read, He gave a smirkling smile.Fif. 1839 T. Hanna T. Chalmers (1852) IV. 74:
Smiling and smerkling at the more ludicrous passages.Per. 1857 J. Stewart Sketches 28:
How smirkingly arch Your staff is presented!Mry. 1865 W. Tester Poems 149:
Halflins fou, wi smirkin een.Kcb. 1901 Crockett Dark o' the Moon xiv.:
This witch of Endor smirked as she played “The tailor fell through the bed.”Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (Iktober 10):
A lass 'at haes sense is no aye smirkin.
¶III. adj. Fig., pleasant, smiling, attractive. Only in quot. below.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 43:
He . . . wad far rather dern i' neuks Wi' lasses smirk . . . Heaven's Writ shaws whilk road is best to follow, Fu sweet an' smirk.
