Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1793, 1892-1996
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GROOFLINS, adv. Also grooflings, grofflins (Gall. 1900 E.D.D.); gruf(f)lins, -ens, grøf(Sh.), groufflins. Now only liter, except in Sh. See also Grufeling. Flat on the face, in a prone position (Sh. 1955). [Sc. ′gruflɪnz; Sh. ′grøflɪns]s.Sc. 1793 T. Scott Poems 359:
While out this sad tale he sobbet, Grooflins on the cauldrife bent.Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 244:
He fetched me a rattle i' da sma' o' da back an' sent me gröfflins apo my face i' da gutter.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 131:
I strak me tae in a roilt o' a stane apo' da station, an' naur guid grüflins.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 11:
Forjaskit fairly, doon he lay, Grofflins upon the sinny brae.Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 19. 44:
Tirval . . . took his legs anunder him, lavin' him gruflens ipo da floor.Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 87:
The loon liftit his heid an luikit. Breidth an lenth, grooflins, bi the lip o the scaur, wis a creeshie wifie, in dookers, takkin the sun.
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"Grooflins adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/grooflins>
