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.
SKRANK, adj., n., v. Also scrank. [skrɑŋk]
I. adj. 1. Thin, lean, slender, skinny (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Fif. 1846 W. Tennant Muckomachy 56:
The tither [horse] . . . As skrank as e'er ate gers or claiver.Abd. 1925 Abd. Book-Lover V. 6:
Though my soo may get scrank i' the sty.
†2. Of writing: thin, spidery (Cai. 1904 E.D.D.).
II. n. 1. Thin, sprawling writing, gen. in pl. (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 162).
2. A lean, scraggy person (Sc. 1880 Jam.). This meaning is somewhat doubtful.
III. v. To write in a thin, spidery, sprawling hand, to scrawl (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 163).
[Appar. a back-formation with extended meanings of Skrankie, q.v.]
