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.
CRONKIN, adj. Honking (of wild geese), used “to describe the baying sound made by a flock of Brent geese” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.).
[Imit.: prob. a ppl.adj. from an orig. cronk (cf. U.S. cronk, to utter or make a honk (D.A.E.)). Cf.also Eng. dial. cronk, to croak (E.D.D.).]