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.
†GRAMMLE, v. Also grammal. To scramble, grab, grasp (Upp. Cld. 1825 Jam.). Also used fig.Ant. 1900 T. Given Poems 143:
Till rural haunts as weel as toon Nou grammal at display.
Hence 1. gramloch, adj., “avaricious, taking much pains to scrape substance together” (Upp. Cld. 1825 Jam.); 2. gramlochie, adv., in an avaricious manner, graspingly (Ib.); 3. gramlochness, “an extremely worldly disposition” (Ib.), avariciousness.
[A nasalised variant of Eng. dial. grabble, to grasp, grab.]
