Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CRAIGHLE, Craickle, v. and n. Also creachle. [krexl, krekl]
1. v. “To cough in a dry, husky manner” (Clydes. 1879 Jam.5). Known to Abd.2, Lnk.11 and Kcb. correspondents (1940). Ppl.adj. craighling, croaking.Bnff.2 1942:
I'm fear't aboot wee Jeannie; she craighles on ilka nicht an' mornin'.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail I. xv.:
This usage is enough to provoke the elect; as 'am a living soul . . . I'll hae the old craighling scoot afore the Lords.
2. n.
(1) “A dry, short, husky cough” (Clydes. 1879 Jam.5; craichle Sh., Bnff.; creachle Arg. 2000s). Deriv. craichly, of a cough, dry, husky (Sh., Bnff. 2000s; creachlie Arg. 2000s). Known to Bnff.2, Arg.1, Kcb.9 1940.Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 13:
He bocht aal wizzent horse an kye
An scrimpit muck an seed;
Syne, clocherin wi a craichly hoast,
He dwine't awaa, an dee'd.Lnk.11 1942:
To a young lady who complained of having had a cough for the past six weeks, an elderly man retorted: “Lassie, I've had a craighle for near half a century!”
(2) A hoarse, croaking sound (Lnk.11 1940); “commonly used, either for the crowing of a child or any similar sound in its throat, or for the noise made by any farmyard fowl” (Gall. 1898 E.D.D.). Cf. Croichle.
[Prob. onomatopoeic.]
