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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ROOG, n.¹, v. Also roog(u)e, ru(i)g. rooag; roig; and dim. roogie.

I. n. 1. A heap or pile, esp. a small one (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., ruig; I.Sc. 1968). Also fig.Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 244:
She sooked da banes sae clean an' laid dem doon in a peerie roog by demsels.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
A rug o' stens, a rug o' eart' . . . a rug o' folk.Sh. 1928 Shetland Times (14 July):
Clemmie cam kerrying a lok o broon blankets and lade dem in a rooge apo da bed.Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 95:
As trawn a roog o wickitness, As ever you did see.

2. Specif. of peat or turf: (1) a small preliminary stack set up to dry at the peat-bank before carrying home; (2) a small heap of peats at the door of a house (Sh. a.1914, Sh. 1968); a store for preventing peats from breaking in time of drought (Cai.⁸ 1934).(1) Sh. 1888 Edmonston & Saxby Home of a Naturalist 184:
I lunt me kischie upa da roogie o' fœlls.Sh. 1918 T. Manson Peat Comm. 11:
Forty “roogs” wis reckoned enough for a oardinary crofter.Sh. 1934 W. Moffatt Shetland 94:
These roogs are simply an aggregation of several turnings; in fact, they are tiny peat stacks. As raisings are to turnings, so are turnings to roogs, but once this last process is completed, the peats may be said to be cured, and now only await the Herculean task of removal and transportation.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 32:
A fracht o' paets frae da hill, oot o' da nortmast rooag.

3. A mound or knoll; a pre-historic stone cairn or barrow (Sh. 1968).Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 77:
Bit can du tell me why dey caad Dis roog da Sojer's Knowe?

4. A big, clumsy person (Sh. 1873 E.D.D., Sh. 1968).

II. v. 1. To build peats up in small preliminary stacks or heaps in the last process of drying (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1968).Sh. 1899 Shetland News (15 July):
“Dü ye roog a' your paets?” “Na, we stak some tü.”Sh. 1918 T. Manson Peat Comm. 151:
Aall dey can du is ta raise dem an roog dem, an maybe kerry.Sh. 1947 New Shetlander (June–July) 10:
As I roiged da fine, blue paets up near da Staandin' Stane.Sh. 1964 Folk Life II. 7:
If there were many wet peats that had not dried well on wet ground they would be rooged in small circular stacks, roogs, built round with turfy peats for protection, and left all winter.

2. To rake hay into small piles after it has dried (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); to put anything, e.g. fish into heaps (Sh. 1968).