v. Sc. Also 6 smyrkle, 9 smerkle. [f. SMIRK v. + -LE 3.] intr. To smirk or smile. Hence Smirkling ppl. a.

1

  The sb. smirkle is also illustrated by Jamieson (1825).

2

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.

3

1597.  Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 925 (Waldegrave). Experience then smyrkling smyld.

4

18[?].  Lord Dunwaters, iii. in Child, Ballads, IV. 117. He gave a smirkling smile.

5

1819.  W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d (1827), 19.

        The friskier for the flytin’, they
Gaffaw and smirkle in their play.

6

1839.  Chalmers, Mem. (1851), IV. 74. The minister I saw smiling and smerkling, in his own characteristic way, at the more ludicrous passages.

7