Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866-1932
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BACKAGRUF, BAKKAGROF, BACK O' GRØF, n. The face of peat at the bottom of a "peat-bank." Hence also the peat pit. [′bɑkə-′grøf]Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
Backagruf, a ridge at the bottom of a "peat-bank" formed by the surface of the peat-moss, which is pared off and thrown on the bottom of the ditch before the peats are dug out.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Bakkagrof, bakkagrøf, peat-pit below the so-called "(peat-)bank" or ledge where the peats are cut; a hollow into which the uppermost turf of the peat-bank is thrown before the actual peat-cutting begins.Sh.4 1932:
The pit is the groef, and back o' grøf is the face of peat.
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"Backagruf n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/backagruf>
