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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GRO, v., n., adj. Also groe, groo, gru(e). [gro:, gru:]

I. v. Of the wind: to freshen (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., groe, 1914 Angus Gl., gru; Ork. 1929 Marw., groo; ‡Sh. 1955); used as a taboo-word at sea (Jak.; Sh. 1814 Irvine MSS). Also fig. of persons (or animals): “to sigh or groan like the wind before a storm” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., groo); to show the teeth threateningly, as an angry dog (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.).Sh. 1822 S. Hibbert Descr. Sh. 512:
Noo he beguid to gro frae the sud east.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 52:
He began tae grue up a brave snifter o' wind.

II. n. 1. A gentle breeze; also used as a fisherman's tabu-name for wind (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); “a strong wind and rough sea” (Sh. 1910 Old-Lore Misc. III. i. 39, 1914 Angus Gl., gro; Ork. 1955). Hence adj. groy, windy (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).Sh. 1953 New Shetlander No. 35. 14:
A pirr a groo ruffled the water; a tide lump made and broke in a great roar of welcome on Heylie Baa.

†2. The colour grey (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.).

3. In dim. or deriv. form: “a proper name applied to a grey horse” (Ork. 1929 Marw., groy).

III. adj. Grey (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Comb.: grostane, a large surface boulder of grey stone. Now only in place-names. Cf. graystane s.v. Gray, adj., I. A. 1. (27).Sh. 1937 J. Nicolson Restin' Chair Yarns 115:
The boulder, of course, fell short. It can be seen to this day resting on a slope near the Muldra Burn in Aithsting; an unshapely lump of quartz that must weigh many tons and known as grostane.Sc. 1979 T. S. Law in Joy Hendry Chapman 23-4 (1985) 81:
Here are nae broos in trauchle wi yer greinin,
nor daith the groo cloodfauld ower blinnin een, ...