Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CRINCH, Crinsh, v. and n. Sc. variant of Eng. crunch. Also vbl. n. For vowel, cf. P.L.D. § 60.1. Cf. Cransh. [krɪnʃ]
1. v. Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 48:
Aabody sookit pandrops tae thole the dreid o the sermon. Bit there wis an airt tae the sookin: nae crinchin wis allooed - ye'd tae sook canny an slaw; stap the fite baa aneth yer tongue till it melled wi yer ain slivvers.
In phr. to crinch the teeth, to grind or gnash (the teeth) (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Fif.10 1941:
Often said of a child with worms: “He crinches his teeth in his sleep.”Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick xvi.:
Ye could see he was in a Hielant passion, crinchin his teeth an' mutterin to himsel.
2. n. A very small piece (Abd. 1921 W. Walker MS. W.-L., crinsh). The Eng. form crunch is included here in this special Sc. usage. Hence dim. crinchie, crunchie (Cai.1 c.1920; Fif.10 1941).Mry.2 1937:
Gie the littlin a crinchie o' breid.Lth. 1885 “J. Strathesk” More Bits from Blinkbonny 135:
Some bits o' crinshes o' roots she feshes in.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch (1839) xxiii.:
[He] had got his pipe smashed to crunches.
Phr.: crinch by crinch, little by little, gradually.Hdg. 1905 J. Lumsden Croonings 211:
Crinch by crinch the people's ain They're winning back.
