Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CREE, v.2 To pound or crush, to husk (barley, etc.). Also in n.Eng. dial. Comb. creeing-trough, a stone-trough in which barley was pounded. Ppl.adj. creed, crushed, pounded, used as a n. in 1817 quot. = juice, sap.Ayr. 1817 D. McKillop Poems 32:
I saw them eat the cheese and bread! I saw them drink the barley creed! Rxb. 1889 Hist. Bwk. Nat. Club XII. 479:
The shepherd has an old “creeing-trough,” for husking bear or barley.
[E.M.E. crey, id., from earlier creve, Fr. crever, to burst, split, Lat. crepare, to crackle.]
