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.
Quotation dates: 1892-1961
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SKROVLE, v., n. Also skrovl, skrov(v)el, skrof(e)l; skruvle, skruf(fe)l, scruffle. [′skrovəl, ′skru-, ′skrʌfəl]
I. v. 1. To rustle, crackle, like dry hay, paper, stiff cloth, to make a scratching, rustling or scraping sound (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1970). Deriv. scruffly, making a crisp crackling noise, rustling, in quot. of a dry sheepskin bag.Sh. 1902 Shetland News (18 Jan.):
Da tails o' hir cot's froz'n, fil dey skruvl'd like skate skins.Sh. 1939 W. Moffat Twilight over Sh. ii.:
Stowed away in a "scruffly buggy."
2. To scratch, grope, scrabble (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl.).Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 254:
Der very claws scruffling at da backs o' my legs.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Skrovlin wi' de hands, wi' de nails.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 60:
I got a doose ahint it sent me scrovvelin apo me fowers oot da door.
II. n. A scraping, scrabbling noise, a disturbance; the sound of light waves breaking on the shore (I.Sc. 1970).Sh. 1961 New Shetlander No. 57. 24:
An juist wi dat a fit wis heard, A scruffle i da trance.
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"Skrovle v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/skrovle>
