Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GRUMMEL, n., v. Also grummle, grummal, grumble.
I. n. 1. Mud, dregs, sediment (Ags. 1808 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl., grummles; Ayr.4 1928; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Cai., Uls. 1955). Found in Eng. 16th–17th c. and in Der. dial. = coffee-grounds.m.Lth. 1767 Session Papers, Earl of Abercorn v. Hope Depositions 3:
There is grumble or stuff banked up in the level.Abd.27 1950:
There's a grummel i' the boddom o' the gless.Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 53:
In Steenhive, fowks war beginnin tae steer, rinnin like rats amang the grummel, caain fur their faimlies an friens. Wi the pooer aff an the mains brust, I kent I'd nae chance o gettin a message throw tae the toun.
2. Crumbs, fragments (Ork. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 XV. 96, 1866 Edm. Gl., grummal).Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He laid it i' grummel.
II. v. To make muddy or turbid (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff., Add. 225; Cld. 1880 Jam.; Ayr.4 1928), “to dim the transparency of water by stirring up sediment” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Hence grumlins, dregs (Ork. 1929 Marw.), of tea-leaves (Wgt. 1955).
[O.Sc. has grummel(l), rubbish consisting of earth and stones, from 1517, prob. of Scand. origin. Cf. Sw. grummel, sediment, grounds, and Grum, n.1 The stem is also found in O.Flem. grommeling, rubble, Fris. grommelich, Swiss Ger. grummlig, turbid.]
