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.
SMURACH, n. Also -agh, -ack, smoorach, -ich, smewrach, smuirach. [′smurəç; Mry. ′smjur-]
1. Dross, fine dust or powder, specif. of crumbled peat (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1920; Cai., Rs., Inv. 1970); fire ash (Cai., Mry. 1921 T.S.D.C.); anything crushed to powder (Crm. 1970); small sticks for fuel (Rs. 1921 T.S.D.C.).Arg. c.1835 L. McInnes S. Kintyre (1936) 29:
My heart is a' to muillins minched, Brye, smuirach, daps, and gum.Abd. 1932 D. Campbell Bamboozled 16:
Maister Muirison's hairt wad shatter tae smoorich.
2. Contemptuously of persons: the lot lumped together, the whole collection or “caboodle”, the riff-raff, the swarm (Ayr. 1928).Abd. 1923 R. L. Cassie Heid or Hert xv.:
She's as gweed as a' the smoorach.
