Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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.

CRUGSET, KRUG(G)SET, KRUKSET, v. To drive an animal into a corner, usually the corner of a fence or dyke, in order to capture it (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., crugset; 1908 Jak. (1928), krukset; 1914 Angus Gl., krugset). The pa.t. would appear to be the same as the pr.t. (see quot. below). Ppl.adj. crugset, “driven into a corner in an argument” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Abd. 1911 J. Wight in Abd. Weekly Jnl. (31 March) 4/6), worsted. [′krugsɛt, ′kruk-]Sh. 1932 J. M. E. Saxby Sh. Trad. Lore 97:
“Ye kruggset him dat time.” “To corner” would be a translation of the term to “krugg,” but the term means more. When a tameless creature had to be caught, you hemmed him in with ropes and men. You made him krugg (crouch with fear), and you left him with no loophole of escape.