Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1773-1925
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CREEST, Creist, Criest, Creast, Creyst, Cryst(e), Crest, n. and v. [krist, krɛst]
1. n.
(1) “A self-important or officious person” (Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); “a person who is at the same time diminutive and loquacious” (Borders 1808 Jam., creyst).Edb. 1818 Ballad in Edb. Mag. (Oct.) 327:
Sae feckless yet sae crouse a cryste, What maid did ever see!Kcb. 1893 S. R. Crockett Stickit Minister xv.:
Div ye ken what the craiturs war sayin'? . . . The assurance o' the upsetting creests is juist by ordinar'.Rxb.2 1916 in T.S.D.C. II.:
“He's a gey criest” is said of a person who is forward and conceited.
†(2) Conceit, self-importance.Kcb. 1837–1902 J. Heughan in Gallovidian (Autumn, 1913) 109:
If swaggerin' Mars the nations' peace did shoar Sune arbitration's wecht his creest wad smoor.
Hence creesty, adj., self-important.Kcb. 1890 A. J. Armstrong Musings 140:
Where mischief is he's to the fore Fu' pawky and fu' creesty.
†(3) In phr. to set up one's creest, to assume an air of importance or self-confidence.Kcb. 1897 A. J. Armstrong Robbie Rankine 39:
Ye'll set up your creest an' talk to me aboot speerit.Dmf. [1777] J. Mayne Siller Gun (1808) 68:
Sae croose the twa set up their creest, Before the toolie, Fowk thought in other's waems, at least, They'd sheath a goolie.
‡2. v. To brag, boast; to assume airs of self-importance; to raise (oneself, one's head) proudly. Gen. found as ppl.adj. Also to crest it up, to crest up. Also fig. Watson in Rxb. W.-B. (1923) gives the form crest for Teviotd.Sc. 1887 Jam.6, Add.:
Crackin' an' crystin by the ingle cheek.w.Sc. 1773 Boswell Tour to Hebrides (1785) 356:
The old minister was standing with his back to the fire, cresting up erect.Lnk. 1816 G. Muir Cld. Minstrelsy 21:
A loun stood in a corner creastin' Wi' a fore leg.w.Dmf. 1908 J. L. Waugh Robbie Doo (1912) xii.:
There was a wee creistin' mason sittin' on the front bink, yin Dannie Kennedy by name.s.Sc. 1835–40 J. M. Wilson (ed.) Tales of the Borders II. 163:
The other's criestin his head in a pulpit wi' clean starched bands round his neck.Rxb.(D) 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes an Knowes 9:
Monie a creestin bit [place] wui a guid ruice o itsel A ken that coodna haud the cannle ti Ancrum for wurth!Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan I. v., ix.:
No content that he should crest it up wi' the best born. . . . James crested up, and tauld us plainly that the laird of Howeboddom was a match and mair for the heiress of Fourmerkland.
