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: 1899-1920
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SMORA, n. Also smorra; smaroo, smero(w), smuiro (Ork.). A name variously applied to the clover, Trifolium repens (Sh. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 XV. 138, 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1947 Sh. Folk-Bk. I. 86; I.Sc. 1970), the bird's foot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus (Ork. 1914 M. Spence Flora Orcad. xxxii., Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1970), or, less certainly, to the tormentil, Potentilla erecta (Marw.). [Sh. ′smorə, Ork. ′smørʊ]Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 139:
Four-leaved smora, the finding of which was considered extremely lucky.Ork. 1914 M. Spence Flora Orcad. 104:
His mother bade him look for a smerow and put it in his boot for then the “cheap Johns” would not be able to cheat him.Ork. 1920 H. Campbell Island Folk Songs 11:
A muckle gold smaroo for Maroo.
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"Smora n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/smora>
