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: 1861, 1912
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SMOOL, v.2, n.2 [smul]
I. v. To wear a petulant, discontented expression, to scowl, frown; to look scornful and unfriendly; of a horse: to threaten to bite by baring its teeth (Dmf. 1970). The word smollicher in phr. a black smollicher, “a person with very dark features” (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.) is phs. to be referred here as a deriv. agent n. The source has not been traced.Kcb. 1861 R. Quinn Heather Lintie 69:
Ye maun na smool nor hang yer brows Whan neist we meet.Kcb. 1912 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 291:
What are ye smoolin' at?
II. n. A scowl (Kcb. 1921 T.S.D.C.; Dmf. 1970); a snarl by a horse when threatening to bite (Id.). Also in Manx dial.
[Orig. somewhat uncertain, prob. from Scand. Cf. Norw. dial. smulla, smolla, to snort, laugh, and Ger. schmollen, to look sulky, pout, (dial.) to smirk.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Smool v.2, n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/smool_v2_n2>
