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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.

GROVEL, v. Also grovle, grøvel, gruvil. To grope about or to fumble along in the dark (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), grovel, grøvel, Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1955). [′gro:vəl, ′grø: v-]Sh. 1898 Shetland News (15 Oct.):
Efter da night 'at A'm hed grovlin' ower fir da shael i' da dark byre.
Sh. 1899 Ib. (11 Feb.):
I grövelled among da ooster an' da pilticks fil I fan da nyle.
Sh. 1923 Shetlander No. 3. 2:
An' whin I wis dune I tied a shaef-baand aboot dem, trivild an fan da simminds, took hit aa inunder me okster an' gruvild fir da hoos.

[Norw. dial. gruvla, to rummage, root around, to creep, O.N. grufla, to grovel, to grope. Some of the forms have been influenced by Eng. grovel.]

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