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: 1753, 1814-1853
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†GROUF(F), v., n. Also growf, grufe, gruff. Also in Yks. dial. [grʌuf, gruf]
I. v. To sleep heavily but restlessly (Sc. 1818 Sawers; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 243), to snore. Vbl.n. grouffin, gruffin, loud breathing while in a disturbed sleep (Fif. 1825 Jam.).Per. 1753 A. Nicol Rural Muse 19:
While in a grouffing easy dwame He slept to rest.Ags., Fif., Lth. 1825 Jam.:
Grouf, grufe. This term does not merely denote the disturbed sleep of a sick person, but immediately respects the sound emitted by the nostrils in consequence of breathing high through them. Often, to grouf in sleep.Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock vii.:
Jim begood to growf already, as ye see.
II. n. A short sleep, heavy but disturbed, such as one has during illness (Ags., Lth. 1808 Jam.); a snooze (Fif. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 246).Sc. 1814 C. I. Johnstone Saxon and Gael I. 189:
I fell into a bit gruff sure enough, sittin' horn-idle wi' my hand aneath my haffit.Edb. 1822 R. Wilson Poems 53:
Wow! Jamie man, ye're unco dowff, Yer muse is surely in a grouff.
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"Grouf v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/grouff>
