Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1787, 1881-1927, 1991
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BLACK SUGAR, —SHOOGIR, n. Liquorice or liquorice juice. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scoticisms 15:
Black Sugar. — Licorice Juice. The inspissated juice of licorice.Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 29:
Blacksugar is the Scotch name for Spanish liquorice.Rs. 1991 Bess Ross Those Other Times 105:
"Well, how much is the black sugars, please?"
"A ha'penny each. You'll get two of them for a penny."w.Rxb., s.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Black-sugar, Spanish or Italian liquorice.
Hence black shoogir-waeter, a solution of above in water.Rxb.(D) 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 23/2:
Black shoogir-waeter, a paep [cherry-stone] a sook!
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"Black Sugar n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/black_sugar>
