Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CRAWL, n, v.². Also craal

I.  n. (1) “A large number (of living things); a swarm: ‘A crawl o' bairns (or rats, etc.)'” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).

(2) In Phr.  to tak one's crawl, to creep away. Abd. 1860 J. Davidson Poems 124:
Noo' ere I take my crawl awa', For here comes Sixty One.

(3)  Hence crawlie, adj., of water: continuously trickling. Edb. 1829 G. Wilson Sc. Laverock 177:
Some deal their drink as frank an 'free, As it were crawlie water.

II. v.²  Sc. form of Eng. crawl (Sh., Ork., Cai., Bnff., Abd., Arg., Dmf. 2000s).Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 42:
" ... An' thoo kin tell him fae me that even if I shid get thin - no that a'm sayin' a'm fat - id'll be for no yeuse tae him tae come craalin' back tae me. ... "