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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SCRUBIE, n. Also scrubbie, scruibie. The disease scurvy. Also in n.Eng. dial. Combs. scrubie-grass, scruibie-gerss, scurvy-grass, Cochlearia officinalis (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rnf. a.1850 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) S. 46); spirit of scrubie, a distillation of this plant used as a cure for scurvy.Sc. 1700 Edb. Gazette (3 Oct.):
Daffys Elixir Salutis, Queen of Hungaries Water, Spirit of Scrubie.
Sc. 1808 Jam.:
He's ourgane with the scrubbie.

[O.Sc. scrubie, 1643, appar. a corruption of scurvy, due to conflation with Fr. scorbut, id. See note to Screebie.]

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