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: 1701, 1808, 1897
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†GRU, n. Also grue. A particle, an atom, used both lit. and fig. Obs. in Eng. since 15th c.Sc. 1701 Letter from a Magistrate in the Countrey 14:
No Grue of his Power comes from them; such Jurisdiction being inter Regalia, the Kings Prerogative.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
No a gru of meal, not a particle of meal . . . He has na a gru of sense, he has no understanding.s.Sc. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws xx.:
The man hasna a gru o' sense in his great donnart head.
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"Gru n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gru>
