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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Crab, Craib, v. Also: crabbe, crabe. [Northern ME. (rare) crab, prob. f. crabbed, Crabit a.]

1. tr. To annoy, irritate, put in bad humour, make angry.(a) 1456 Hay I. 87/32.
Ȝit has he crabbit his king and his counsale 1461 Liber Plusc. 383.
All thus but caus to crab thi creatoure Ib. 400. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2572.
Ane full gude seruand will crab his maister anis c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 3/23.
I se that part of peple … deferris thair pennance to thair eild, craband the hie maieste of God a1500 Doug. K. Hart 597.
Quhat haue I done that thus hes crabbit ȝow 1535 Stewart 33385.
Quhairthrow ȝe ma sone crab his majestie Ib. 37396.
Tha stude sic aw … To contray him or crab in ony thing c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 827.
For ladies had rather be Vestais fa, Nor crab Venus 1576 Crim. Trials I. 52.
Thow hes crabit God, and askit sum thing thou suld nocht haif done 1600-1610 Melvill 65.
When it twitched his particular, no man could crab him(b) 15.. Clar. i. 299.
Gif we schap to crabe our creatour 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7702.
I promeis ȝow nouther in word nor deid Ȝow for to craib a1578 Pitsc. I. 198/2.
Quhen I … wald ding my brother and wald craib hir, scho wald ding me a1585 Polwart Flyt. 152.
I will write verse … To crabe thee … by thy mind 1586 Maxwell Mem. II. 25.
It ver lytill falt to craib them boith 1600-1610 Melvill 425.
My sinnes hes wrought sa grait mischeiff To crabe my heavinlie Father 1609 Gardyne Garden 22.
You griue your God, and craibs him but a cause

2. intr. (and refl.). To become angry or ill-natured.(a) c1460 Consail Wys Man 175.
Crab nocht lychtly for lytill thing 1490 Irland Mir. I. 7/27.
And ȝe be neclegent … he crabbis and commovis him agane ȝou 1535 Stewart 39858.
Tha crabit on euerie syde so soir, Accusand vther a1568 Scott xxvi. 76.
Gif thay crab, heir I quyt clame it a1585 Maitl. Q. xl. 5.
Crab not gif I to mynde doe call The paine that I sustein a1598 Fergusson Prov. (1641) 7 b.
He that crabbes without cause, should mease without mends(b) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2358.
Craib not that ȝour ȝettis was unclosit Ib. 8001.
Quhen euer scho craibis, and castis bakwart the creid 1572 Sat. P. xxx. 33.
Gif that our lords wald craib for ony cais 1574 Three Reformers 118.
He wald craib and much disdaine, Gif they had tane God's name in vaine