We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1908-1927

[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]

SNEUK, n. Also snuik, sn(j)uk-; sn(j)ug-, sneg- (Jak.), a whim, a crotchet, a freak, a peculiarity of temper (Ork. 1929 Marw., snuik; Sh., Ork. 1971). Phr. in the snuiks, in the sulks (Marw.). Ppl.adj. sneukit, snjuket, specious, insidious, artful, crafty (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 206, 1908 Jak. (1928); Abd. 1911 Abd. Wkly. Jnl. (31 March); Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Comb. ill-snjug, offence, insult, aversion, most freq. in ppl.adj. ill-sneukit, -snuiket, -ed, snjuket, -sn(j)uget, -sneget (Jak.), disagreeable, cross-grained, ill-natured, ill-mannered, malicious (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1971), sneuksie, id. (Ork. 1971). [Ork. snøk, snɛk-, Sh. snjuk, -g, sneg]Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He has a ill snjug at me, he's taen some ill snjug to me.Ork. 1927 Peace's Almanac 135:
Da ald illsneukit tell-pie aye gettin' someane i' a sneckcue.

[The n. appears to be a back formation from the comb. ill-sneukit, for which cf. Norw. dial. ill-snøgg, rash, precipitate, snøgg, quick, hasty, Icel. snöggur, id., cross, testy. But there are various phonological and semantic difficulties which make any of the proposed etymologies uncertain. See Jak. s.v. ill-snjugget.]

24580

snd