We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

SCRUMP, v.1, n. Also skrump and by conflation with Scruif, scrumf, scramph, scrunf. Deriv. scrumple, skr-. [skrʌmp]

I. v. To make or become crisp, dry and brittle, esp. of bread in baking (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 164, skrump(le)). Hence skrumpie, scrump(l)it, baked hard and crisp (Fif. 1825 Jam., scrumplit; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 164; Bnff., Abd. 1969). Also in Eng. dial.Abd. 1867 A. Allardyce Goodwife 12:
An' fan soor scones were nott at Yeel, Or scrumpit bannocks free.

II. n. Anything crisp and hard, esp. of bread (Gregor, skrump(le)). Also in Eng. dial.; a crust, superficial hard layer (Abd. 1931 Abd. Press and Jnl. (11 Feb.), scrumf; Bnff. 1969).Abd. 1951 Buchan Observer (31 July):
If the neeps be kept clear of weeds and have the “scramph”, or crust of soil on the drills, duly broken.Bnff. 1966:
I've seen them harra in the snaa tae brak the hard scrump tae lat it melt or they got the seed sawn.

[An alternative form of Scrimp, q.v. Cf. Norw. dial. skrump, crisp, hard meat, Dan. skrumpen, shrivelled, and O.Sc. skrumple, a wrinkle, 1508, to crush, c.1575. Form and usage have been influenced by crumple.]

23263

snd