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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SCRONACH, n., v. Also scronnach, -och, skronach, scroneugh; scroinach, -och, -ogh, scrynoch, scru(i)nnich, schroynoch; screnoch (Jam.) and back formation scron (see II. 3.). [′skronəx]

I. n. 1. A shrill cry, yell, scream, shriek, an outcry, loud fuss or lamentation (Bnff. (screnoch), Abd. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 150; ne.Sc. 1969); a din.Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 320:
Nae doubt, sma' scroinoch they wad mak'.Rnf. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 139:
Punch-royal round he dously dealt, The scroneugh high to heeze, man.Ags. 1826 Dundee Advertiser (30 Aug.):
It wis nae wonder nor Tammy Lethridge and Co. made sic a scronach aboot lattin' sae muckle grain into the market to overstock it.Bnff. 1852 A. Harper Solitary Hours 46:
The wasie wives sad schroynoch made.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxviii.:
A' this scronach aboot a strain't queet.Abd. 1930 Press & Journal (29 Jan.) 9:
The present scrunnich about bankrupt farming.

2. A noisy person (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 150; Ags. 1912 A. Reid Forfar Worthies 82).

II. v. 1. To shriek, yell, scream, cry out (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 150; Bnff., Abd., Kcd. 1969). Ppl.adj. scruinnichin, “of noisy, demonstrative manners” (Gregor).Ags. 1815 G. Beattie John o' Arnha' (1852) 27:
The Kelpie scronnocht “Punctum satis!”Kcd. 1871 Stonehaven Jnl. (1 June) 3:
The goblin an' gaist, an' the scronachan ghoul.Abd. 1943 W. S. Forsyth Guff o' Waur 17:
A scurrie scronnachs ower my heid.

2. To make a great outcry or fuss, to grumble peevishly, grouse (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 150, Bnff. 1969). Ppl.adj. scronachin, peevish.Ags. 1912 A. Reid Forfar Worthies 82:
Skronach and skronachin, words applied to a fussy person, or to one complainin' with little cause, and also to some who were simply tiresome, or too voluble.

3. To condole in an affected or simulated way, set up a lament or mourning (Ags. 1921 T.S.D.C., scron).