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.
GRAY, n.3, v.2 Also grey. [gre:]
I. n. 1. A light wind, gentle breeze (Ork. 1887 Jam., gray, 1929 Marw.; Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 73; Bnff.2 1920; Fif., m.Lth. 1955). Cf. Gro.Cai. 1909 D. Houston 'E Silkie Man 5:
'Ey ratched oot wi' a fine grey o' wun fe'e su' aist.
†2. Fig. and jocularly: “a drop of whisky, a ‘nip'” (Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 73).
‡II. v. Of wind: to freshen (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Gen. with up.
[Norw. dial. gråe, a wind that just ripples the surface, gråa, v., O.N. gráði, a breeze curling the waves, from grá, Norw. grå, grey (from the appearance of the ruffled water). The phonology of the word has been identified with gray, the colour, which has replaced the orig. Norw. grå.]
