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: 1898-1923
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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 Shetland News (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.
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"Grovel v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 1 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/grovel>
