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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CRUD, CROOD, Croud, Crudd, Krud, n., v. Also in Eng. dial. (E.D.D.). [krʌd Sc., but ne.Sc. krud]

I. n.

1. Sc. equivalents of Eng. curd. The Sc. forms have not undergone the metathesis of the Eng. word. Gen. in pl. (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., kruds; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 148, crudds; Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn., cruds).Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 206:
As for frute after fude, it . . . coagulates on the stamach like sour cruds.Ork. 1929 E. Linklater White Maa's Saga 76:
He stood there, his mou' all white wi' cruds.Bnff. 1924 Burnie's Jeannie in Swatches 16:
Kiss you or ait Mistress Black's butter, stinkin croods an' a'.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 45:
Stoup-fu's of crouds an' ream, She aft wad steal.Ags. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 13:
Och, I'm tire't of plyterin oot an in
Amo hens an swine an kye,
Kirnin amo brookie pots
An yirnin croods an fye.Dmf. [1777] J. Mayne Siller Gun (1836) 49:
On strawberries, or cruds and cream, And country fare.

Hence cruddy, curdled, full of curds (Bnff.² 1927; Gall. 1898 E.D.D.) and comb. cruddy (croodie) butter = 2. below (Sc. 1929 F. M. McNeill Scots Kitchen 212; Bnff., Abd. 1948 (per Abd.²⁷)).Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Observations on the Scottish Dialect 154.

2. = Crowdie, n.² (Sc. 1930 A. Robertson in Weekly Scotsman (22 March) 7/1, croods; Mry. 1916 T.S.D.C. II.; Bnff. 1948 (per Abd.²⁷); Ant. and Dwn. 1930 (per Uls.³)).

3. Phr. and combs.: (1) crud cooler, “a shallow, metal-lined wooden vat, standing on legs like a table, into which the heated curd is put to drain and cool before being broken up. After being broken up it is returned to the cooler and the salt is mixed in by hand before it is put into the chissats” (Kcb.¹⁰ 1941); (2) crud-knife, a knife used for cutting curd into square blocks to allow the whey to drain off; (3) crud-mill, “a curd cutter used in the dairy for cutting a solid block of curd into small pieces” (Arg.¹ 1927); “a number of knives formed into a frame with handle attached for the same purpose” (Kcb.¹⁰ 1941); (4) crudd-sae, “a shallow tub to hold curds” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 148); (5) to work the croods, to break the curds (when making cheese) (Bnff.² 1941).(2) em.Sc. 1909 J. Black Melodies 124:
The crud-knife an' the chessart Are han'elt there wi' care.(5) Abd.(D) publ. 1867 Mrs. Allardyce Goodwife at Home xxx.:
Oh! say awa, an' pree the cheese; Ye winna fin't that fell. I never heats the milk o'er sair; An' works the croods mysel.

4. Frog spawn (Bnff. 1948 (per Abd.²⁷); Fif.¹⁰ 1941, cruds). Cf. Curds, n., 2.

II. v.

1. In phr. to crood kebbucks, ? to break curds for cheese.Abd. 1827 J. Imlah May Flowers 20:
She bauks an' she brews — milks My Hawkie an' Hornie, Kirns butter — croods kebbucks — cloots claise now an' then.

2. “Of butter, to form into little lumps in the churning” (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Ib.:
It's beginnan to krud noo.