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.
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.
