Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

CRAY, Crae, Cree, n.¹ A pen, or enclosure, for hens (Ayr.⁴ 1928, cray), sheep (Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 69, cree; Cai.⁴ c.1920, cree), pigs (Per. 1915, Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson, cray; Rnf. 1947 (per Abd.²⁷); Ayr.⁴ 1928, crae), etc. Also found in Eng. dial. in sense of hen-coop (E.D.D.). Cf. Craw, n.⁴, Crue, Cruive. [kre: m.Sc.; kri: Cai.]Sc. 1930 D. S. Murray in Weekly Scotsman (27 Sept.) 9/3:
Jimmy, your hen cray's empty, there's no a bird left in the place.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 134:
The next afternune, when I cotch him in the cray, I took him and plaistered his dowp for him effeckwally with some fine fresh mustard.w.Dmf. 1908 J. L. Waugh Robbie Doo (1912) i.:
In thae days, every wife in the village had a soo crae at the heid o' the gairden.