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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1789-1790, 1847-1853, 1917-1948

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CRUMP, KRUMP, v. Cf. Cramp, v.

1. To crunch, munch (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl., krump; Bnff.2, Abd.2, Ags.2, Lnk.11 1941). Now only dial. in Eng. Upper Deeside 1917 (per Abd.8):
Crump is the form used for hard gnashing or munching as a horse eats.
Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 19:
Tib's teeth the sugar plums did crump Without the least objection.
Ags.17 1941:
Dinna crump yer sweeties, lassie, sook them.
Lth. 1925 C. P. Slater Marget Pow 67:
The dentist told her she would be crumpin' toast with them in a wee whilie.
s.Sc. 1847 H. S. Riddell Poems 193:
And weel she [cow] stows our pantry's cheeks, When nought else there can enter, As she will do, when green as leeks, She crumps it [hay] up in winter.

Hence crumper, a machine for pounding and braying corn.Lnk. 1948 Scotsman (24 Nov.): 
Threshing Mill, Power Crumper and Bruiser.

2. To crackle, as ice or snow when trodden on (Sc. 1825 Jam.2; Bnff.2, Abd.2 1941). Also found in Nhp. dial. (E.D.D.). Ppl.adj. crumpin', crumpen, crisp, crackling, brittle.Rnf. 1790 A. Wilson Poems 197:
Alangst the drifted crumpin' knowes, A' roun' his glimmerin' een he rowes, For Hares, or bits o' burdies.
Lnk. 1853 W. Watson Poems (1877) 98:
Tho' frost an' snaw Be crumpin hard on bank an' brae.
Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems and Songs 298:
Come, gentlemen, who rule the roasts, And ladies that eat crumpen toasts.
Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 133:
Fogs, condensing in the gelid air, Upo' the plains fall hoary . . . . . . an' to the pliant foot . . . the grassy path Crumps sonorous.

[Prob. imitative in origin, but cf. Norw. krumpa, to squeeze, to crush, to gnaw audibly (Torp), and Crump, adj.]

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"Crump v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/crump_v>

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