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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SHOWL, v., n. Also ¶shool (Sc. 1880 Jam.), shoul-, shoel. Deriv. shoolach. [ʃʌul]

I. v., tr. and intr. To twist, distort (esp. the mouth), to make a wry mouth, to grimace at a bitter taste, or from being near to tears (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rnf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 353; ‡n.Sc., Per. 1970). Ppl.adj. shoelin, twisted, deformed, splay, of the ankles, shoolachin, with twisted features, ugly (Wgt. 1958); adj. showlie, shouly, “deformed by being slender and crooked” (Cld. 1825 Jam.), wry, distorted, of a look.Rnf. 1790 A. Wilson Poems 202:
Mirran, wi' her shoelin' cloots.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 14:
Sour Sipsie showl'd a saucy mou'.Ayr. 1841 J. Paton Songs 22:
Willie stood up wi' afright, And leuk sae shouly.Per. 1879 P. R. Drummond Bygone Days 199:
One little rascal cam' in to me showlin' and crying.Ags. 1886 A. Willock Rosetty Ends 147:
He screwed up his face an' showled.Abd. 1964 Buchan Observer (1 Sept.) 6:
Oh, ye needna showl. That muckle mou' o' yours is —.

II. n. A wry face, a grimace.Ags. 1886 A. Willock Rosetty Ends 81:
He screwed his mooth into a shoul.