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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JOUG, n. Also joog, jugg. Gen.Sc. form of Eng. jug. [dʒug]

1. As in Eng.; also a mug, or small drinking vessel, esp. one for making punch and similar drinks in (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 288). Gen.Sc.; the amount of liquid contained therein (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 92); a drink (of alcohol) (Ags., Fif., Edb. 2000s). Dim. jooggy, deriv. jougfu', a jugful and phr. a left-handed joug, a chamber-pot (Ags. 1950).Bnff. 1709 Annals Bnff. (S.C.) I. 180:
Four jougs from Sterling of fine metall from ane English gallone to ane pint.Ayr. 1786 Burns Sc. Drink i.:
I sing the juice Scotch bear can mak us, In glass or jug.Abd. 1879 G. Macdonald Sir Gibbie vi.:
I cudna hae prayt a word to yer lordship gien I hadna had a jooggy or twa first.Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 41:
The Scotch call a small drinking-vessel “a tin jug”; the English say “a tin mug.”e.Lth. 1903 J. Lumsden Toorle 41:
Drink a muckle jougfu' o' sauts an' sinny.Cai. 1915 John o' Groat Jnl. (25 June):
Bowls an' bickers, skellat joogs, an' siccan leems, for drink.Sc. 1931 J. Lorimer Red Sergeant xxii.:
Fill yer jougs, lads, an' see the boddom o' them as aften as ye like.Ags. 1952 Forfar Dispatch (17 July):
They'd affa braw pottery and ye cud buy't, so we each bocht a jougie.

2. Usu. in form jug: a measure of capacity = 1 Sc. pint (2.93 Imperial pints). Obs. since 1826. Also attrib. and freq. in comb. Stirling jug, the standard vessel for this measure, “so called from having been delivered by order of the Estates of Parliament into the custody of the Burgh of Stirling in the early half of the fifteenth century” (J. Paton Sc. History and Life (1902) 199).Slg. 1707 R. Sibbald Hist. Slg. (1892) 44:
The Town of Stirling kept the Standart for the Jugg, or Pint, Chopin &c. for all wet Measures within the Kingdome.Sc. 1722 Records Conv. Burghs 315:
Such of the royal burrows as have not as yet taken the measure called the jugg from the burgh of Stirling.Sc. 1755 J. Chamberlayne State Gt. Britain ii. iii. 116:
The Firlot of Linlithgow, which is the standard, contains 31 pints Stirling jug, for the measuring of Wheat, Rye, Meal, Beans, White Salt, Malt, Beer, and Oats.Slg. 1795 G. Galloway Duelling 8:
My sang's the gauge o' Scotland's meal, Auld Stirling's Jug.Edb. 1800 Edb. Weekly Jnl. (10 Dec.) 393:
That new measures be made, the firlot to contain 48 Stirling jugs of water, which, upon the average, will weigh 112 lbs. avoirdupois, when filled with potatoes to the edge.Sc. 1830 W. Shiress Tables Frf. & Kcd. Weights & Measures 185:
The Scots Pint or Stirling Jug, . . . contains 26306.982 Imperial Grains, or 104.2034 Cubic Inches.Slg. 1908 Shearer's Guide to Slg. 89:
The [Smith] Museum contains many interesting articles of local interest, such as the celebrated Stirling Jug.Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 69:
He went to the press, and returned with a bottle, which he poured out. "Here," he snorted, "set thee mooth tae yin chug an' tell me whit id's like." Lnk. 1991 Duncan Glen Selected Poems 10:
And ginge-bried: "Best without
Butter or cream". And aye
A great joog o soor-dook
To gae wi it aw, frae the cairt Abd. 1992 David Toulmin Collected Short Stories 42:
He's a bittie scrimp wi the measure-joog Edb. 1993:
D'ye fancy a joug? I like to have a couple of jougs after work. Ye're no gaun for a joug at this time in the morning! Dundee 1996 Matthew Fitt Pure Radge 4:
a pint o hevvie
while ye're ther
a joug o pure fyre
a tassie o gaskin wyne