Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
JIRG, v.1, n.1 Also ja(i)rg, jurg, girg, gerg; jerk; girge, jirje (Abd.). [dʒɪrg; Abd., Kcd. + dʒɪrdʒ]
I. v. 1. intr. To make a squelching or splashing noise as when walking in wet shoes, to gurgle (Sc. 1887 Jam., girg, gerg; Abd.13 1927, jerk; ne.Sc., Ags., m.Lth., Gall. 1959). Vbl.n. jirgin, ppl.adj. jurging, jerkin, squelching, sopping (Abd.15, m.Lth.1 1959).Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 191:
Weet, cald, and jurging feet he never minds.Ags. 1860 A. Whamond James Tacket xxvi.:
The water in my shoes made a disagreeable jerking noise.Abd. 1886 Jeems Sim 29:
Lord, Sir, I wis soakit tae the skin an' my feet war jist jirjin.Abd. 1958:
The grun's jirjin efter the rain.
2. tr. To work (clothes) up and down in water; to reduce to the consistency of mud, etc.; to spill liquid, esp. from a carried vessel; to shake violently up and down (Abd.7 1925, jirge).Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 219:
Ye can gang tae Jidderton an' girge mice.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Jarg it a' up. Dinna jairg the milk owre.Abd.4 1928:
Gie the claes a gweed jirgin.
II. n. “The sound caused by walking over a quagmire” (Sc. 1825 Jam., jirg; Abd. Ib., jurg); a squelching sound (ne.Sc. 1959).
[Onomat. Cf. Jirg, v.2, n.2, Chirk, Chork.]
