Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

KREEST, v., n. Also criest, krist, krest. [krist, Sh. + krɪst, krɛst]

I. v. 1. To squeeze, press down (Ork. 1887 Jam., 1929 Marw., Ork. 1960).

2. To exert oneself, gen. ineffectually.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Du's kristet as lang wi' it.

3. To whimper, complain (Ib.); to breathe noisily through sitting in a constrained position, to grunt (Ork. 1898 E.D.D., criest, Ork. 1960). Phr. kreestin and laughin, making sounds through the nose when trying to restrain laughter, “making a peculiar low laugh by shortening the neck, more common in plump, thick-set people than in others”, chuckling (Ork.¹ 1929).Id.:
He's a peerie kreestin ting.

II. n. A groan, a forced cry, a grunt, a sound made as a result of exertion or pressure (Ork. 1887 Jam., Ork. 1960), a complaining tone of voice (Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 152).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 13:
Gin ye be bad, i' Geud's neem begone Co' Jenny, wi' a kreest.