Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866-1952
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SCROCKEN, adj., v., n. Also skrucken, skurken, scrochen, scroogen, ¶scraggen and with alternative suff. scro(c)kle. [′skrokən, -xən, ′skrʌ-, Sh. ′skʌrk-, ′skrokəl]
I. adj. Shrivelled, shrunk in drying (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 164; Mry.1 1925).
II. v. tr. and intr. To dry out, to shrink or shrivel up with heat or drought (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 164; Abd. 1921 T.S. D.C.; Sh. 1969, skurken), gen. of peats (Abd. 1915) or fish (Mry. 1969). Also fig. Ppl.adj. scrockent, scrochen't, skurkent, dried out, scorched (Abd. 1925); half-dry (Crm. 1921 T.S.D.C., scroogent); of peats: dried out on the surface preparatory to being fittit (Abd. 1911 S.D.D., 1921 T.S.D.C. scrockled).Mry. c.1880 Pluscarden MS. II. 120:
Here they [peats] are left on their ends till they are some 'scraggened'.Abd. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 64:
He fuffed a quile alowe, kenelt a scrockled skelb or twa.Abd. 1932 R. L. Cassie Scots Sangs 31:
Lairach loups aneth the fit, Scrochen't is ilk rickle.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 154:
I juist gae him a leuk, yon kind, ye ken, it sooda skurkened him up.Abd. 1952 Buchan Observer (8 July):
Before their sharny boots got sun-scrockled at the hoe.
III. n. Anything dried up and shrivelled.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 164:
Sic skruckens o' speldins.
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"Scrocken adj., v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/scrocken>
