Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
WRINGLE, v., n. [rɪŋ1]
I. v. To writhe or twist the body, to move in a sinuous manner. The 1789 quot. is however a variant version of a line in Ross's The Rock and the wee pickle Tow where the reading is wrigle (Works (S.T.S.) 141).Sc. 1789 Shepherd's Wedding 12:
She threw and she drew, she wringl'd and wrang.Edb. 1814 J. Monro Farewell Song 51:
We humbly houp To wringle thro' haf-stap ev'n, aiblins, loup.
II. n. A wriggle, a writhing movement (Sc. 1808 Jam.).
[E.M.E. wringle, = I., formally a freq. form of wring, but poss. borrowed from Du. dial. wringelen, to squirm, writhe.]
