Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

KRUL, n., v. Also krull, crull, krol(l), krøl, kroil; ¶krjill (Sh. 1905 E.D.D., Suppl.). [krʌl, krɔl, krøl]

I. n. 1. A hump on the back, a humped or arched back, the bent, huddling posture assumed in bad weather (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1960). Phr. to set a or de krul, to arch or bend the back against bad weather, or when rising from a recumbent position (Ib.), or from age.Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 19. 43:
As da weight o' years began ta set a krul atween da shuders, wir meetings wir less aften.

2. A confused, smashed heap, a tangle (Ork. 1887 Jam., 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 150), now only in phr. i crull, in a kroll, -kroil, -krul, in a state of confusion intertwined or entangled (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1960), as of a person lying helpless from drink, weakness, or other inability (Ork. 1929 Marw.), in pieces, in fragments (Ork. 1934).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 133:
He dang hid's bothom clean i' splender, An' laid hid a' i' crull.

II. v. To curl or huddle up, esp. of cattle in bad weather, gen. as pa.p. krolld, kroild (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Ppl.adj. krølet, humped, having an arched back, of an animal (Ib.).