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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CROOPAN, KROOPAN, CRO(O)PIN, CROUPIN, CROUPEN, CROOPE(E)N, Crupeen, Kropin, Krup(p)en, Kruppin, n.¹ [′krupən, ′krɔpən I.Sc., but Sh. + ′krupin]

1. The body of a person or animal as distinct from the limbs (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), kruppin, kruppen; 1914 Angus Gl., krupen); “now mostly jokingly used of the body of a fowl — esp. at table” (Ork. 1929 Marw., kroopan).Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
Blessings be upon thy croupen.Sh.(D) 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 6:
Hits tippet o kurkie and shaela combined, Hits sklender croopeen and fainly vynd.Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Sketch Bk. 28:
The fau'ter hed a right, gin he liked, tae gie him a keik on the saftest piece o' his croopan.

2. Jocularly or mockingly extended to mean a person (cf. colloq. Eng. use of body); “the person, including both soul and body” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., croopin); “a poor useless creature” (Sh. 1898 E.D.D., cropin, kropin); “an odd or poor individual” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).Sh. 1908 J. M. E. Saxby in Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 314:
“Hey” quo' Kutty, an “Hoe” quo' Kutty, “Noo whau'll come reel wi me?” quo' Kutty, “Sad sicht be seen upo der crupeens! — “I'll henk it awa mesel,” quo' Kutty.Sh.(D) 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 82:
Curse apo' dat croopen. What can shü be comin ta wis aboot.Ork. 1884 R. M. Fergusson Rambles 220:
She told the anxious parent that the child was a fairy changeling, or a croupin.