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 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GROOZLE, v., n. Also gruz(z)le, gruizle, gru(is)sle; groozel, †gro(a)zle. [′gruzəl, ′grʌz-, ′grøz-]

I. v. 1. To breathe heavily, to make a continued grunting noise (Fif. 1808 Jam., grozle; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 243, groozle; Cld. 1825 Jam., gruzzle, grusle, groozle; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., gruizle, gruzzle; Kcb., Dmf., Rxb. 1955).Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 97:
In the night the young pigs came gruzling about me very kindly.Sc. a.1796 Merry Muses (1820):
Ye pegh, and grane, and groazle there.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 141:
Again the pen he nibbles, An', heedless o' the crood that roon' him bus'les, He gruzzlin' pores, an' fast an' faster scribbles.

2. To speak indistinctly or huskily (Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 148, groozle; Rxb. 1955); of an infant: to gurgle, either denoting the half-plaintive sound made on newly awaking (Sc. 1825 Jam.), or that made when well pleased (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1955).Lth. 1808 Jam.:
Gruzzle. To use the mouth as children often do, who retain the custom of moving their lips as if they were still sucking, so as to articulate indistinctly.Kcb. 1897 A. J. Armstrong R. Rankine 30:
The occasional groozelin' o' the bairn.

†3. To eat greedily and noisily (Lnk. 1825 Jam.).

†4. To make a gurgling noise. Found only as vbl.n. groozlins, the intestines.Lnk. 1825 Jam.:
I had a grumbling in my groozlins (gruzlins), I was seized with gripes.

II. n. A grunting or gurgling noise (Dmf. 1825 Jam.), as the sound of breathing with phlegm in the throat (Dmf. 1955).Kcb. a.1900 J. Mathewson MS. Poems 58:
Wi' a struissle, — a wee gruissle Will turned himsel' an' spak.Gall. 1902 A. E. Maxwell Lilts 21:
The wean lies asleep . . . As he smiles in his rest, wi' a groozle, and stirs.