Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1836-1999
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SURREE, n. Also soree, suree, sir(r)ee; swarree (Slk. 1920 P. Sully In Our Burgh 216), swarry, swaree (Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 318), swuree (m.Sc. 1917 O. Douglas The Setons iv.). Sc. forms of Eng. soiree, a social gathering, conversazione, esp. one organised by a church, Sunday school, or the like (Sc. 1904 E.D.D., Ayr. 1923 Wilson Dial. Burns 188; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein). Gen.Sc. [s(w)ʌ′ri]Sc. 1836 Cockburn Journal (1874) I. 128:
They are called “soirées” (pronounced “sorries” in Edinburgh, and “swurries” in Glasgow), being cheap evening public meetings, attended by crowds, male and female, who get tea and speeches for a shilling or sixpence or even twopence. They are the familiar conventicles of the Radicals, of the Dissenters.Bnff. 1881 W. M. Philip K. MacIntosh's Scholars 118:
A soree is a new invention. There was never onything o' the kin' heard o' in this countra till a short time ago.Edb. 1886 R. F. Hardy Within a Mile 19:
I didna tell ye about the surree.Gsw. 1902 J. J. Bell Wee Macgreegor 27:
Macgreegor's the yin fur surees. . . . He cam' hame frae the Sawbath-schule suree the ither nicht wi' fower orangers an' guid kens hoo mony pokes o' sweeties.Rxb. 1919 Hawick Express (7 Feb.) 4:
The guid auld-fashioned swaree, concert an' ball, especially on auld-year's nicht.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 22:
Yon wis a gey like spout ye gid at the Free Kirk siree.Ags. 1957 People's Jnl. (14 Dec.):
Controllin' twa hunner weans at a surree.wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 4:
Hell's bells, if a neebor draps by fur tea
Or Missis asks visitors in for a wee swaree,
Where's the herm? What does he think'll happen
That he nags us till our heids are nippin'?wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 6:
Pairties and cerd-schools he canny abide
Because sich abominations are Auld Nick's pride.
And socials and swarrys and coversat-zionis
Will bring the wrath o' God doon oan us.Rnf. 1993 History on your Doorstep, The Reminiscences of the Ferguslie Elderly Forum 36:
In those days you had a range and you clipped your stocking on a piece of string over the range. Sometimes you went to a Church party or Soiree and you got a gift, an annual or something.Ags. 1990s:
Swarree: n. Sunday School party; social gathering
