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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SUDDLE, v., n. Also sudle, suddil; siddle. [sʌdl]

I. v. To soil, dirty, tarnish, esp. of clothes (Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. Gl., 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 193; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Ork., Slg., Fif., Slk. 1971), freq. in ppl.adj. suddlet, soiled, streaked with smuts or dirt, badly-washed, of clothes.Sc. 1722 W. Hamilton Wallace i. iii.:
A sudled Curch o'er Head and Neck [she] let fall.Gsw. 1744 Caled. Mercury (23 April):
Turkey Leather Pocket-Book, a little suddled.Hdg. 1796 Session Papers, Petition J. Tait (26 May) Proof 27:
Children's clothes, either suddled, or that had been washed and not mangled.m.Lth. 1812 P. Forbes Poems 63:
He tumbl'd in a bed o' leeks, An' suddled a' his buckskin breeks.Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 71:
Sair suddled sark neck, an' napkin loose.Lnk. 1893 J. Crawford Verses 53:
A hat gielies siddlet an' frail.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 4:
God's air clear an no suddlt wui suitty flichts.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xxvii.:
Yer cleys's unco suddlt.

II. n. 1. A stain, spot, dirty mark, smudge.Dmf. 1861 R. Quinn Heather Lintie 163:
Nature's touch sae pure and bricht, But blemish, flaw, or suddle.

2. A worn or tarnished article of dress or footwear.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 231:
She hid on sod suddils o' sheen.