Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1853-1930
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GRABBLE, v., n. Also †grable.
I. v. To grab, grope (Sh.10 rare, Ags., Per., m.Lth., Uls. 1955). Also in Eng. dial.m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 257:
Ae wee deevil o' a bairn, whan I was nippin' its taes, and grabblin't tae find if the spark o' life was flown.Ags. 1930 A. Kennedy Orra Boughs xxv.:
In his prime these restless grabbling hands had been strong and firm.
Hence grabbler, an avaricious person, a miser (m.Lth.1 1955).
II. n. 1. A grab, a grasping (Ags., Per., m.Lth. 1955). Phr. to let a grabble for, to grab, snatch at.Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock xviii.:
There's naething but a grable, grable amo' fouk.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond B. Bowden (1922) iv.:
I lat a grabble for the poker. But in my hurry, ower gaed the fryin' pan.
†2. In pl.: “a disease of cows, in which all their limbs become crazy, so that they are unable to walk” (Ags. 1808 Jam.).
[Freq. of grab; for II. 2., cf. Eng. grabble, to sprawl or tumble about on all-fours.]
