Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1867
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
CURR, KURR, n.1 and v.1
1. n.
(1) A soft, murmuring sound.Sc. 1867 Blackwood's Mag. (Feb.) 148:
They'll send the stanes spinnan Wi a whirr and a curr till they sit roun' the tee.
(2) A slight sound, a whisper, a rumour (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., kurr, curr; 1908 Jak. (1928), kurr; 1914 Angus Gl.).
2. v. To purr (Rxb. 1942 Zai).
[Echoic in origin: cf. O.N. kurr, a murmur, grumbling, a rumour; Eng. curr, to make a low murmuring sound, used of doves, owls, etc. (N.E.D.).]
