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.
CRILE, Cryle, Croil, Croyle, n., v., and adj. Also cruyle. Cf. n.Eng. dial. creel. creil. [krəil, krɔɪl]
1. n.
(1) A dwarf (Sc. 1808 Jam., croil; s.Sc. 1825 Jam.2); a dumpy, deformed person; “a frail person, animal or thing, broken down from age or ill-usage” (Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 69). Also used as a term of contempt (Sc. 1898 E.D.D.).Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems II. 37:
Thy Wit's a croil, thy Judgment blind.Slk. 1818 Hogg Brownie of Bodsbeck, etc. I. i.:
The tane was a wee bit hurklin crile of an unearthly thing, as shrinkit an' wan as he had lien seven years i' the grave.Slk. 1863 J. Currie Wayside Musings 134:
Thou art nae shabby, shilpit crile.
(2) Applied to children or animals that are stunted or deformed, or that do not thrive (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2; 1923 Watson W.-B.).
2. v. (1) “To make (a person) a dwarf, supposedly to cause (a small boy) to stop growing, by passing one's leg over his head” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Add. 340). Found usu. in pa.p. and ppl.adj. criled, cryl't, stunted, dwarfed (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2, cryl't; 1923 Watson W.-B., crited, cryl't, obsol.); crouched, huddled up; (2) to fail in health; found only in ppl.adj. croilan (Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. Ork. Par. 150; Cai.3 1931).(1)Fif. 1838 W. Tennant Anster Fair, etc. 34:
At last they fand him underneath A firlot cruyled and crookit.
3. adj. “Feeble on one's legs (Cai.1 c.1920, croyle).
[O.Sc. has croyll, cryll, a dwarf, a.1585 (D.O.S.T.). Phs. from Mid.Du. kriel, very small, dwarfish (Kilian), Mod.Du. dial., id. If this is correct, the word must have been borrowed in the 15th cent. because of the diphthong. The [ɔɪ] forms may be due to the rounding of the diphthong which survives in some districts (see P.L.D. § 131).]
