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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STINK, v., n. Also stynk (Inv. 1911 Buchan Observer (10 April 1962) 7). Sc. forms and usages:

I. v. 1. As in Eng., intr., to emit a foul smell. Agent n. stinker, the white-backed dolphin, Lagenorhynchus albirostris, also applied to dolphins in gen. (Arg. 1930).Arg. 1901 Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. Gsw. 196:
Fishermen and yachtsmen clearly distinguish it from the porpoise by its larger size, and by its conspicuous habit of leaping out of the water. By the Loch Fyne men this is said to be the “stinkers threshing”.

Combs.: (1) stinking-coal, an impure variety of coal which burns with a strong sulphurous smell (Fif., Lnk. 1971). Also in Eng. mining usage; (2) stinking Davie, the ragwort, Sene cio Jacobaea (Fif. 1825 Jam., Fif. 1971); (3) stinking Elshender, id. (Sc. 1848 J. M. Wilson Rural Cycl. IL 533; Per., Slg., Fif. 1971); †(4) stinking ill, the sheep disease braxy (see quot.); (5) stinkin nettle, the dead-nettle, Lamium (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); corn mint, Mentha arvensis (Lth. 1971); (6) stinkin puppy, the wild scarlet poppy, Papaver rhoeas (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1971); (7) stinking Roger, the fig-wort, Scrophularia (Gall. 1904 E.D.D.). Also in n. Eng. and Uls. dial.; (8) stinkin Tam(my), the tansy, Tanacetum vulgare (Ib.); also applied to other strong-smelling plants, esp. the rayless mayweed, Matricaria matricarioides (Rxb. 1875 Scotsman (20 Dec. 1954) 6; Bwk. 1952 Scotsman (19 July); Bwk., s.Sc. 1971); the rest-harrow, Ononis arvensis (Rxb. 1971); †(9) stinking-weed, = (2) (s.Sc. 1777 J. Lightfoot Flora Scotica II. 1132); (10) stinkin Willie, id. (Mry. 1825 Jam.; Sc. 1869 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 1120; Edb. 1880 Trans. Philolog. Soc. 109; ne.Sc., Ags., Fif., Lth., wm. and sm.Sc. 1971); the water ragwort, Senecio aquaticus (Cai. 1904 E.D.D.); the tansy, Tanacetum vulgare (Sth. 1897 E.W.B. Nicholson Golspie 130).(1) Lnk. 1864 J. Greenshields Annals Lesmahagow 241:
The stinking coal, which is five foot thick.Ayr. 1902 R. W. Dron Coal-Fields 32:
At Glenbuck it has the expressive name of the “stinking coal”.Fif. 1937 St Andrews Cit. (6 March) 5:
The sulphur or stinking coal of the West of Fife coalfield.(4) Sc. 1807 Prize Essays Highl. Soc. 364:
On opening the body, it emits a strong sulphureous smell, characteristick of the disease; hence it is sometimes called the stinking ill.(8) Bwk. 1853 G. Johnston Botany E. Borders 52:
Ononis Arvensis. . . . The smell of the root, on being kept, is, however, very disagreeable, and hence, in our district, the plant gets the name of stinking-tam.(10) Ags. 1879 A. Jervise Epitaphs II. 107:
To show their dislike to William Prince of Orange, the rebels conferred the name of Stinkin Willie upon the “weebo” or ragwort, an orange coloured and obnoxious plant.Nai. 1892 Trans. Northern Assoc. I. v. 64:
Locally known as “Stinking Willie”; said to have been so named by the Highlanders after the battle of Culloden in contempt of William Duke of Cumberland, who was supposed to have introduced the seed among his English oats.Kcb. 1911 G. M. Gordon Auld Clay Biggin' 82:
A handfu' o' stinkin' Wullies.

2. With for: to behave in such a way as to make certain (unpleasant) consequences inevitable, = Eng. “to be asking for (trouble)”, to invite (trouble or punishment) by one's conduct, freq. in phr. to be stinkin for one's licks, to be in need of a thrashing (ne.Sc. 1971).

3. In ppl.adj. stinkin, (1) offensively haughty, arrogant, saucy, snobbish, supercilious (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh., ne.Sc., Ags. 1971). Also adv.; (2) used adv. with ironical force as an intensive = very, excessively, extremely, in phr. stinkin fond, fond indeed, a fool if . . . (Kcd. 1971).(1) Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 117:
A pert, stinking-like husy, going about with her face up to the sky.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 55:
A stinking pridefu' jade.Edb. 1825 R. Chambers Traditions I. 208:
Lady Lovat had been but a stinkin madam a' her life.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxiii.:
Glowerin', rather stinkin' like, as I thocht . at my mean attire.(2) Sc. 1916 N.E.D.:
I'd be stinkin' fond (to do something) = “I should never think of it,” “I should certainly not.”

4. tr. To fill (a place) with an offensive smell, to affect (a person) with a stench, foul atmosphere, etc. (I. and ne.Sc., em.Sc.(a) 1971). Pa. p. stunk.Per. 1714 R. Smith Poems (1853) 23:
Their smoak may only stink thy nose.Edb. 1856 R. Chambers Traditions 230:
She wondered what they were keeping her [a corpse] sae lang for — stinkin' a' the stair.e.Lth. 1889 J. Lumsden Lays Linton 27:
Pale, duddy bairns that are cooped up, a, smeekit, an' stunk, an' stewed like vermin in oor lairge towns.

5. tr. To capture (a prisoner) in the. game of Scots and English (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 182). See Regibus, Scot.

II. n. 1. As in Eng. Comb. stink Davie. the dandelion, Leontodon taraxacum (Clc. 1896 B. and H. Plant Names 453).

2. A player who has been made a prisoner in the game of Scots and English or sim. games (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 182). Also stinkard, stinker (Jam.), stinky, id. Hence stinky-dails, stinkers, the game itself. See Dale, n.⁴, 2.Ayr. 1880 J. Tannock Poems 12:
“Stinkers” is just a famous game.Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 22:
In Stinky-dails each side went to its own dail, from which one ran out and was chased by one of the other side. If caught that one became a stinky, and stayed until relieved by one of his own side.