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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.

CRAN, Crane, n.¹ and v.¹ [krɑn]

1. n.

(1) The heron, Ardea cinerea (Sc. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 145, crane, 1887 Jam.⁶; Abd.²⁷ 1925; Dmf. 1910 Gladstone Birds Dmfsh. 225, crane).Sc. a.1767 M. Bruce Poems (1837) 198:
The slow-winged crane mov'd heavily o'er the lee.

Comb.: cran-craig(ie), “one who has a long slender neck” (w.Sc. 1887 Jam.⁶); also used attrib.Ib.:
That cran-craigie beast cou'd never ca' coals.

(2) The swift, Cypselus apus (Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 236; Bwk. 1880 Proc. Bwk. Nat. Club 230, 1911 A. H. Evans Fauna Tweed Area; Ayr.⁴ 1928; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also cran(e) swallow, id. (e.Lth. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 96).

2. v. To stretch the neck in straining to hear (Bnff.² 1940); to eavesdrop.Abd.(D) 1916 G. Abel Wylins 25:
Noo I'm near my hinmost sleep, Cranin' maist for voiees deep.Abd.²⁷ 1947:
I got her crannin' at the door.