Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1702, 1836-1949
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GRUMLIE, -Y, adj.2 Also grummely, grumily, grumli. Muddy, turbid, full of dregs or gravel (Ags. 1808 Jam.; Slk. 1825 Jam., grummely; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., grumli; e.Rs. 1929; Sh., Abd., Ags., Fif., Dmf. 1955); dark, dense; fig. in a confused, uncertain state. [′grʌmle]Sc. 1702 R. Wodrow Early Letters (S.H.S.) 201:
As to our Synod things once looked a little grumly, but the scene altered befor they arose.Sc. 1836 J. Baillie Witchcraft iii. ii.:
His knit brows as grumly as a thunner cloud.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 126:
An' aye your modern dram, he said, gied him the grumlie goo.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 56:
Your forten luiks a gey grumily soss.L.Bnff. 1934 J. M. Caie Kindly North 44:
An' some [rivers] gyang quaitly daun'erin' by Or files are grumly, deep an' dour.Sc. 1935 W. Soutar Poems in Scots 13:
And richt afore the horsemen, Whaur grumly nicht had been, Stüde a' the Grampian Mountains.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 98:
What tinks doo hey dey aa dis red an' green dram glesses fur? A'm sure I ken no, aless it's ta hoid what dey pit athin dem if hits grumly, bit I sall ax her.
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"Grumlie adj.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/grumlie_adj2>
