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: 1786-1928
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‡GRUSHIE, -Y, adj. Also †grush, †groosh. [′grʌʃi]
1. Of strong, rapid growth. Also in Yks. and Lan. dial.
(1) Applied to plump, thriving, lusty children (Kcb.4 1900).Ayr. 1786 Burns Twa Dogs 111–12:
The dearest comfort o' their lives, Their grushie weans an' faithfu' wives.Sc. 1787 W. Taylor Poems 43:
My grushy wee-anes roun' my knee, Sometimes do clim' an' sometimes tumble.Rxb. 1811 A. Scott Poems 91:
Wi' five grush bairnies an' a wife.Sc. 1862 A. Hislop Proverbs 221:
Ye're a' grease, but I'm only grushie.Ags. 1880 J. E. Watt Poet. Sk. 55:
The bit loonie grew up to be grushie an' stout.Ayr. 1928 J. Carruthers Man Beset i. i.:
Weel, it's no just the thing [for a girl to bathe naked] — and you a grushie lad.
(2) Applied to vegetation, etc., of luxuriant growth, abundant, lush; “thickly sown” (Sc. 1882 C. Mackay Poetry & Humour Sc. Lang. 114; Peb. 1950). Also fig.Ags. 1859 Montrose Standard (21 Jan.) 7:
Thou's wont to sing that liquor stout Gars grushie thochts come bickering out.Ayr. 1879 R. Adamson Lays 89:
Like grushy, growin' weeds that would Upon the tender flower intrude.Ayr. 1903 G. Cunningham Poems 33:
His beard is bushy, thick and grushie.
(3) Fig.: “very good, excellent; a term much used by young people” (Lth. 1825 Jam., groosh).Sc.(E) 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ iii. iii.:
I hecht things maist groosh an' eternal, an' the herts o' men are dirr.
2. Flabby, frowsy (Sc. 1818 Sawers; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 243).
[A variant of gross with -ie adj. ending. For -sh < -ss, cf. Harash, Veshel.]
