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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SMUIRICH, v., n. Also smurach, -och, smoorach, smoorich, -ik, smourock, -ach, smir(r)ik; smearich, smeerik; smewrach (Mry.), and irreg. smuthick (Ork.). [′smørɪç, ′smuriç, Abd. ′smir-, Mry. ′smjur-. See P.L.D. § 142.]

I. v. intr. or absol.: to exchange kisses, to cuddle, “canoodle” (ne.Sc., Ags., Per. 1970). Occas. tr., to kiss. Freq. in vbl.n. smurachin, smooriken, -in, smir(r)ikin, smeerikin, a kiss, cuddle (Sc. (smir-, smeer-), Fif. (smur-) 1808 Jam.; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 428, smeerikin; Sh., ne.Sc. 1970).Per. 1878 R. Ford Hamespun Lays 146:
Young Sandy kiss'd them ane an' a', An' Harry smoorich'd mair than twa.Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sketches 115:
Yon nicht I juist hed a smooriken at dir door.Lnk. 1895 W. Stewart Lilts 193:
Efter hauflins smoorin' her wi' smirrikens.Abd. 1918 J. Mitchell Bydand 22:
We'll smoorich ane anither fin' there's nae ane there tae leuk.Bnff.⁵ 1926:
I saw them smoorichin in a corner.Sh. 1947 New Shetlander (June–July) 3:
Does a lass laek a smoorikin ony da less becaws sho dusna hae de derivation?Abd. 1981 Christina Forbes Middleton The Dance in the Village 24:
I'm telt aff aboot bein' oot ower late
An' ten o' clock's her limit
She'll nae stan' for smoorachin' at the gate
An' times me tae the minute. Abd. 1994 Sheena Blackhall in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 135:
An Aik Coutts, smoorichan intil a dumplin o' a waitress half his age, his sporran heist till her apron - an her kecklin like a kittlin.

II. n. A kiss, caress, a hug, cuddle (Per. 1904 E.D.D.; Ork. 1929 Marw., smuthick; Ork. (smuthick), ne.Sc., Ags., Per. 1970). Dim. smewrachy (Mry. 1921 T.S.D.C.), smourockie (Sh. 1970).Ags. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin 107, 378:
To lay my lips to hers, by way o' imprintin' a smurach thereon. . . . An awfu' smoorich o' a kiss as if he had been gaun to wirry her.Ayr. 1892 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 318:
A smourock or a cheeper.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd ix.:
Wad ye hae ony objeckshuns tae me takin' ye in o' my oxters an' gien' ye a bit smearich o' a kiss?Abd. 1921 Swatches o' Hamespun 12:
[He] syne ga' her the idder smuirich o' a kiss.Abd. 1956 J. Murray Rural Rhymes 32:
Young Jockie an' the lass frae Gicht, Hae mony a smoorach oot o' sicht.Abd. 1991 Douglas Kynoch in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 87:
Twas aye afore her lads, dumfoonert at it aa,
The prood an sonsie jaud wad daat on's maist ava.
The times my face has felt the smoorichs o her moo!