A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1438-1650
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Gruf(e)ling(i)s, -lyngis, Grouf(f)lingis, adv. Also: gruff(il)-, gruifling(i)s; gru-, grewlingis; growfflings; grovelinges, groflins. [Northern ME. gruflinges (a 1300), groflingis (15th c.), grouelings (a 1300). Cf. Gruflingadv. and Grouf n.] Prostrate.(a) ?1438 Alex. i. 2871.
He smot ane knicht sa sturdely That gruflingis to the ground he glaid 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 52.
The quyet closettis oppynnyt with a rerd And we plat law gruflyngis [Sm. gruffillingis] on the erd 1513 Ib. iii. ix. 65; 1513 Ib. v. vi. 81.
I saw myself quhen, gruflyngis [Sm. gruffflingis, R. grufelings] amyd his cave [etc.] 1533 Bell. Livy I. 252/5.
The soroufull moderis fell grufelingis to the ground 1533 Ib. II. 177/4.
He said and fell gruflingis to the erde a1500 Peblis to Play 184.
Sewin sum that the tulȝe maid Lay gruflingis in the stokkis 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 8240.
Than gruiflings swyith scho fell vpon hir face a1578 Pitsc. II. 518 (1814).
This poore man … fell gruflingis on his face(b) a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1024.
Schir Gologras graithly can ga Grulingis to erd ? 1510 Fam. Rose 181.
The said thane … lais him grewlingis in the stokkis in gret contempt … of ws(c) c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 172 (1570).
Grouflingis to ground he smoit him quhair he stude a1578 Pitsc. I. 258/24.
He.leinitt doune groufflingis [1728, groflins] on the dask c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 222.
Fallinge growfflings to the ground(d) a1578 Pitsc. II. 131/5.
But quhene this sillie poore man hard him he fell grovelingis on his face a1627 Craig v. 32.
I grouelinges on the ocean of my pride Did misregard each loving sute
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"Gruflings adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/grufelingis>
