Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SCROCKEN, adj., v., n. Also skrucken, skurken, scrochen, scroogen, ¶scraggen and with alternative suff. scro(c)kle. [′skrokən, -xən, ′skrʌ-, Sh. ′skʌrk-, ′skrokəl]
I. adj. Shrivelled, shrunk in drying (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 164; Mry.1 1925).
II. v. tr. and intr. To dry out, to shrink or shrivel up with heat or drought (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 164; Abd. 1921 T.S. D.C.; Sh. 1969, skurken), gen. of peats (Abd. 1915) or fish (Mry. 1969). Also fig. Ppl.adj. scrockent, scrochen't, skurkent, dried out, scorched (Abd. 1925); half-dry (Crm. 1921 T.S.D.C., scroogent); of peats: dried out on the surface preparatory to being fittit (Abd. 1911 S.D.D., 1921 T.S.D.C. scrockled).Mry. c.1880 Pluscarden MS. II. 120:
Here they [peats] are left on their ends till they are some ‘scraggened'.Abd. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 64:
He fuffed a quile alowe, kenelt a scrockled skelb or twa.Abd. 1932 R. L. Cassie Scots Sangs 31:
Lairach loups aneth the fit, Scrochen't is ilk rickle.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 154:
I juist gae him a leuk, yon kind, ye ken, it sooda skurkened him up.Abd. 1952 Buchan Observer (8 July):
Before their sharny boots got sun-scrockled at the hoe.
III. n. Anything dried up and shrivelled.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 164:
Sic skruckens o' speldins.
