Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866, 1953
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‡GRAIG, v. [gre:g]
1. Lit. (1) “To make a noise in the throat” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 69) as in clearing it, to gurgle. Hence graigy, adj., husky, used as a nickname; (2) “to utter an inarticulate sound of contempt and scorn” (Abd. 1825 Jam.); (3) to eject wind through the throat, to belch (Gregor).(1) ne.Sc. 1953 Abd. Wkly. Jnl. (20 Aug.):
A man from whom I bought my school books was known as Graigy because he had a habit of clearing his throat and giving a sharp peucher o' a hoast when he came forward to serve a customer.ne.Sc. 1953 Abd. Wkly. Jnl. (20 Aug.):
He was graigin lang an' sair afore he dee't.
2. Fig. (1) To hum and haw, to hesitate.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 69:
He graigs aboot it ass lang's ony ither bodie wid be o' deein 't.
(2) To find fault, grumble, in a hypocritical way.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 69:
There's him graigin' an' shackin's hehd, an' mackin' a lang face at the lads an' lasses tackin' a bit dance.
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"Graig v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/graig>
