Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1832
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CRANTZE, Cranzie, Kransi, Kraansie, n. The common Coralline, Millepora polymorpha (Sh. 1808 Jam.; 1866 Edm. Gl., kraansie; 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl., kransi).Sh. 1832 in Old-Lore Misc. (1915) VIII. iii. 124:
He showed me a curious piece of coral . . . which bore a rude, though striking, resemblance to the human face and figure. It was, no doubt, regarded with awe by the superstitious Shetlanders, who would certainly believe it to be a petrified mermaid or a great sea-trow converted into cranzie.
