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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

‡CROODLE, Crowdle, v.¹, n.¹ [krudl Sc., but Fif. krʌudl]

1. v.

(1) To crouch, cower (Sc. a.1873 Grose MS. Add. (E.D.D.); Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.); “to draw oneself together” (Fif. 1825 Jam.², crowdle). Common in Eng. dial. (E.D.D.).

(2) To nestle close for warmth or protection (Fif. 1825 Jam.²); “to cuddle” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.).Sc. 1929 J. A. Penney in Scots Mag. (Feb.) 400:
O bide wi' me, my bonnie doo, Nor leave me a' my lane, But croodle close into my breast.Ags. 1880 W. Allan in Edwards Mod. Sc. Poets (1st Series) 290:
Croodlin' doon in mammy's breast.Dundee 1991 Ellie McDonald The Gangan Fuit 31:
Nae stars i the lift
juist a croodlan wund tae be my jo,
an daurkness straikit out
ayont eternity.
Ahent my een
I ken o emptier places lost tae licht,
an endless ghaists that aince
were you an me.

(3) To be packed close, to swarm. Found in ppl.adj. crowdlin', crowded.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxix.:
The streets were still crowdlin' wi' pleasure-seekers.

†2. n. “A heap, collection” (Fif. 1825 Jam.²); a crowd, a rabble.Fif. 1873 J. Wood Ceres Races 76:
As Flute noo leads the race fu' weel, Wi' a' the crowdle at his heel.