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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLOSE, v. To have the respiratory organs in a state of congestion (causing difficulty in breathing) as a result of asthma, croup, bronchitis, etc. (Abd.¹⁹, Ags.², Fif.¹⁰ 1936). [klo:z]Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 27:
The littlin clost up a' thegeether; bit, ye see, a pat 'im intil a bowie amon' warm water, an' that relieved ‘im.Ags.(D) 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) iv.:
It was . . . only but aucht days auld when it took bruntkadis an' closed, juist in an 'oor or twa.

Hence (1) closin(g), vbl.n., a stuffed-up or congested condition due to cold, asthma, etc.; preceded by the def. art. = croup; (2) closed, ppl.adj., suffering from congestion, in a state of suffocation.(1) Bnff.² 1936:
Little Jeannie's hid a nesty closin' in her breest for aboot a fortnicht.Abd. 1760 W. Smith MS. Diary (22 Feb.): 
She was very bad with a Cough and a Closing.Ayr. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ III. 107:
Some years ago' nine children died of a disease called the closing, or croup.(2) Ags.(D) 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) xx.:
She's gotten her death o' cauld . . . an' I think she's smittit her bairnie; for when I was yont yesterday forenune, the puir little thingie was near closed a'thegither.