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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.

CROOT, Crut(e), Cruit, Crit, Krute, n. Cf. Crat. [krut, krøt, kryt, krɪt]

1. A puny, feeble child, “the smallest or feeblest child of a family” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., cruit, crit). Extended to mean a short, misshapen person (s.Ayr. 1899 J. Shaw in Country Schoolmaster (ed. Wallace) 346, crut; Rxb. 1808 Jam., crute, 1923 Watson W.-B., rare).Lth. 1808 Jam.:
A weary croot.Lnk. 1882 Anon. in Songs and Ballads of Clydesd. (ed. A. Nimmo) 203:
Some are six feet six, and some are five feet ten; Little Johnie is the crute, and Jamie wants a hand.

2. Similarly, of animals: “the smallest pig in a litter” (Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 236, crit; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Border 1825 Jam.²; Rxb. 1855 J. C. Morton (ed.) Cycl. Agric. II. 724, krute, 1923 Watson W.-B.); “the youngest bird of a brood” (Jam.²); “a small, weakling lamb” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Sc. 1825 Jam.²:
The croot of the cleckin.Lnk. 1893 J. Crawford Sc. Verses 70:
There, there, wee crit [referring to a mouse], ye're free frae scaith, Wha harms ye noo will harm us baith.sm.Sc. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
crit the smallest pig in a litter.e.Dmf. 1894 J. Cunningham Broomieburn 185:
That's the cruit.