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.
Quotation dates: 1808-1825, 1882-1894, 1988
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CROOT, Crut(e), Cruit, Crit, Krute, n. Cf. Crat. [krut, krøt, kryt, krɪt]
1. A puny, feeble child, “the smallest or feeblest child of a family” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., cruit, crit). Extended to mean a short, misshapen person (s.Ayr. 1899 J. Shaw in Country Schoolmaster (ed. Wallace) 346, crut; Rxb. 1808 Jam., crute, 1923 Watson W.-B., rare).Lth. 1808 Jam.:
A weary croot.Lnk. 1882 Anon. in Songs and Ballads of Clydesd. (ed. A. Nimmo) 203:
Some are six feet six, and some are five feet ten; Little Johnie is the crute, and Jamie wants a hand.
2. Similarly, of animals: “the smallest pig in a litter” (Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 236, crit; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Border 1825 Jam.2; Rxb. 1855 J. C. Morton (ed.) Cycl. Agric. II. 724, krute, 1923 Watson W.-B.); “the youngest bird of a brood” (Jam.2); “a small, weakling lamb” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Sc. 1825 Jam.2:
The croot of the cleckin.Lnk. 1893 J. Crawford Sc. Verses 70:
There, there, wee crit [referring to a mouse], ye're free frae scaith, Wha harms ye noo will harm us baith.sm.Sc. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
crit the smallest pig in a litter.e.Dmf. 1894 J. Cunningham Broomieburn 185:
That's the cruit.
