ˈsmirkle, v. Sc.
Also 6 smyrkle, 9 smerkle.
[f. smirk v. + -le 3.]
intr. To smirk or smile. Hence ˈsmirkling ppl. a.
The n. smirkle is also illustrated by Jamieson (1825).
| ? c 1590 Knox's Hist. Ref. iv. (Wodrow) II. 409 As this wes said, Ledingtoun smyleit [MS. G. smyrklit], and spak secreitlie to the Quene in hir eare. 1597 Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 925 (Waldegrave), Experience then smyrkling smyld. 18.. Lord Dunwaters iii. in Child Ballads IV. 117 He gave a smirkling smile. 1819 Tennant Papistry Storm'd (1827) 19 The friskier for the flytin', they Gaffaw and smirkle in their play. 1839 Chalmers Mem. (1851) IV. 74 The minister I saw smiling and smerkling, in his own characteristic way, at the more ludicrous passages. |