Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†KREENIE, n. Also creenie. A name for a race of short, dark people living in the Rhinns of Galloway, used with an implication of contempt. Only in Trotter, otherwise unauthenticated.Wgt. 1877 “Saxon” Gall. Gossip 18:
Tradition says they were the descendants of some savages they call the Kreenies, that came over from Ireland. . . . The Fingauls assign to them all the eccentricities attributed to themselves, and derisively call them The Gossoks.Kcb. 1901 R. Trotter Gall. Gossip 182:
There's the Kreenies or Gossoks too. They'r no unlike the first kin' o' Hill-folk, only they'r no sae big . . . Some says they'r the descendants o' the Eerish Picts; but A'm no sayin. The feck o' them inhabits the Rhinns.
