Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CRUELS, CRUALS, CRUELLS, Crewels, n.pl. Scrofula, the “king's evil” (Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. Ork. Par. (1922) 150, cruals; Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn., cruels); known to Bnff.², Fif.¹⁰, Kcb.¹ (crewels) 1941. Occas. in sing. (Ags. 1721 W. M. Inglis Ags. Parish (1904) 98, Ayr. c.1728 Select Biog. (Wodrow Soc.) II. 451). [′kruəlz]Sc. 1721–22 R. Wodrow Hist. Sufferings Church of Scot. II. 445:
Not long after, his right Hand and right Knee broke out in a running Sore, called the Cruels.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xlvii.:
A beloved child sick to death of the crewels.Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Sketch Bk. 37–38:
The geud man geed awa' dat mornin' tae Rusness, tae see a ceusin o' his 'at wus lyan' badly i' the cruals.Bnff. 1732 in W. Cramond Church of Grange (1898) 93:
Given to a poor boy bad of the cruels 12/-.Fif. 1912 D. Rorie Mining Folk 405:
Swollen glands (referred to as “waxen kernels” or “cruels”) are looked on as a sign of the system being “down.”Arg.¹ 1925:
He wuz bothered wi' his neck an' his grannie said it wad be the cruals. The cruals is no' as common noo as it was wance; I nuvver seed it mysel'.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr. Duguid 140:
Ane of his brithers had a very sair income from the cruells.