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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CROMACK, CROMAG, Kromak, Krummik, Krummek, Krummo, n. Also gromack (Cai.¹ 1928); grome; and deriv. gromeful (Cai.⁹ 1941).

1. The hand with the fingers bent as if to clutch an object or to scratch (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., cromack; 1908 Jak. (1928)); “the five fingers of one hand set together at the points” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Known to Cai. ⁷ 1941 in form cromag. Sometimes in pl. (see Phr.).Sh. 1899 Shet. News (10 June):
We juist pit a grain [of tea] i wir krummik fir ivery one.

2. “As much as can be held between the tips of fingers and thumb, a pinch” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).Sh. 1900 Shet. News (2 June):
Shü took her krummik o' saut oot o' da saut cuddie.

3. Phr.: to set a krummo (de krummek, one's cromags), to set on the kromaks, to bring together all the finger-tips (including the thumb) (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), — de krummek; Ork. 1929 Marw., — on the kromaks).Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He was sae cald 'at he could no “set a krummo.”Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 69:
To “set one's cromags” is impossible when the hand is benumbed with cold.

4. Comb.: cromags-fu', cromag's-fu, krummek(krummo)-fu, as much as can be lifted when the points of the fingers and the thumb are brought together (Ork. 1929 Marw., krummo-; Cai. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl., cromags-fu'; 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 69, cromag's-fu; Cai.⁷ 1941, obsol.); a handful (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), krummek-fu).