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.
Quotation dates: 1750, 1882-1895
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CROUSENESS, n.
1. Cheerfulness (Ags.17 1941).
2. Pride, self-satisfaction, smugness.Fif. 1882 "S. Tytler" Scotch Marriages I., Jean Kinloch ii.:
Man I'm weel content to be an auld maid, it's no sic a forlorn lot as you marriet folk in your crouseness fancy.Fif. 1895 "S. Tytler" MacDonald Lass xv.:
Nevertheless, sorrow had touched even prosperous and cheery Allan, and done something to subdue his "crouseness."
†3. Valour, boldness.Abd.(D) c.1750 R. Forbes Ulysses' Answer (1791) 145:
Ajax, for a' his crouseness now, Cud na get out his sword.
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"Crouseness n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Sep 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/crouseness>
