Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

SWATTLE, v.¹, n. Also swatl(e). [swɑtl]

I. v. 1. To splash about in some wet substance, to wallow (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); of water: to splash over, spill (Id.). Also in n.Eng. dial., obs.Ayr. 1822 Galt Entail lv.:
To swattle in the dirt like a grumphie.

2. (1) To drink in a greedy, noisy manner, to guzzle, slobber (Cld. 1825 Jam.). Vbl.n. swatlin.Slg. 1818 W. Muir Poems 16:
He gruntlin stood, an' swattl'd at it.Slk. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 224:
Some wouldna gie misery a dram, Though they swattle themsels till they spew.Lnk. a.1854 W. Watson Poems (1877) 198:
Sae Bruin he gaes rattlin', rattlin', Creeshie wame fu' swattlin', swattlin'.Kcb. 1890 A. J. Armstrong Ingleside Musings 215:
To hae a nicht's swatlin o' toddy.

II. n. 1. The act of swallowing greedily, gulping down (Slg. 1808 Jam.).

2. Thin liquid food such as soup, or drink “of which one can swallow a considerable quantity” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Cld. 1880 Jam.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1972).