Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1768, 1891-1949
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GREE, n.2, v.2
I. n. †1. Grease, unguent.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 123:
Her face was smear'd wi' some din colour'd gree . . . A wealthy herd that kent the gypsies trick, Of stealing bairns an' smearing o' their skin . . . Weesh aff the gree.
†2. Lymph discharged from an animal's sore (Ags. 1808 Jam.).
3. The oil “that exudes in the boiling of fish or of fish-livers” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.). Also applied to a dish of fish and potatoes dressed in this oil (Sh.10 1955).Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 29:
Yun screed o dine is laek a midden Wi slott and gree.Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 19. 35:
A'm seen da table covered wi widden troughs fu o boiled fish an tatties, heaps o burstin brünnies an trunchers wi liver muggies an plenty o gree.
II. v. Found only in ppl.adj. gree'd, of fish: cooked with fish-liver oil (Sh.10 1955).Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 177:
The liver of the fish was extensively used in a fresh state, and entered into the formation of numerous nutritious dishes, such as stap, gree'd fish, liver heads, liver muggies, krampies, krappin.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (1 July):
I pervail'd apo' wir folk ta hae gree'd brismaks for da supper. Der no a better or heltier dyd 'at gengs i' da mooth o' ony ane . . . as gree'd fish.
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"Gree n.2, v.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gree_n2_v2>
