Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GORGE, n., v.1 Sc. usages:
I. n. Watery snow, esp. in a river (Rxb.5 1955). Cf. U.S. (ice-)gorge. an obstruction in a river caused by an accumulation of ice.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
The burn's full o' gorge.
II. v. 1. To choke up (a channel) with snow, ice, etc. (Ib.). Now always with up. Cf. Gurge.Gsw. 1756 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1911) 476:
[The ground] by the gorgeing of St Enochs burn . . . lyes most of the winter season under water.Rxb. 1808 A. Scott Poems 31:
An' Greenside hop was gorg'd frae brae to brae.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
The burn's gorged up wi' ice an' snaw.
2. To plant (potatoes) too closely (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1914), gorj).
[O.Sc. has gorge, v., of ice, 1681, the sense of choke, stop up in gen., occurring from c.1500 (only from early 19th c. in Eng.).]
