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: 1840, 1929-1950
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GRUNK, GRINK, n., v. [grʌŋk, grɪ-]
I. n. 1. A grunt, of a pig, of a person straining at work, e.g. when lifting a heavy weight (Ork. 1929 Marw.).
2. Transf. A pig, a glutton.Lnk. 1840 in J. G. Wilson Poets and Poetry Scot. 385:
Some greedy grunks wi' menseless maws Took mair than nature wanted.
II. v. To grunt, “to make an oppressed sound” (Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 151, grink, Ork. 1955).Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Thoo're grinkan at it, Wullo!Ork.1 1950:
The paddie's grunkin i' the stye.
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"Grunk n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/grunk>
