Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CRANNIE, Cran(n)y, Cranie, Krannie, n.2 The little finger (Inv. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.; Bnff.4 1927; Bnff.2, Abd.2, Ags.17 1941; Abd. 1993). [′krɑnɪ̢]Abd. 1909 R. J. MacLennan Yon Toon 47:
She's jist got to crook her cranny, an' he's rinnin' intil the shop, to see fit's she's wantin'.Bch. 1929 (per Abd.1):
Yet the wife wis a couthie, denty ted o' a body an' cud turn'm roon' her cranny. Often in such combs. as creenie-crannie; crannie (krannie) doodlie; crannie dottie (Bnff.12 1860); crannie-wannie (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.), crany-wany (Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems, Gl.), crannie-wattie. Known to Bnff.2 (crannie-doodlie), Abd. correspondents (-wannie) 1940.ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore 14:
Here's the man it brook the barn, Here's the man it staa the corn, Here's the man it taul a', Peer creenie-crannie paid for a'. [On p. 15: crannie doodlie.]Abd.(D) 1922 J. Wight in Swatches 56–57:
She cud bit crook her wee crannie-wattie tae the brawest lad i' the hale pairis.Ags. 1906–11 Rymour Club Misc. I. 93:
This is the man that tell't it a'; And puir wee krannie doodlie pey'd for't a'.
