Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡GOLGRAV, n. Also go(i)lgref, -gruve, guilgruff, gulgra(a)ve, -gref, †goolgrave. The open drain from a byre or midden (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., goolgrave, 1914 Angus Gl., gulgrave); also applied to the liquid manure or the mixture of urine and manure found in the runnel of a cow-shed (Sh. 1825 Jam., goolgrave, 1908 Jak. (1928), golgrav, go(i)lgref, gul-). [′golgrɑ:v, -grɛf, ′gʊl-]Sh. 1836 Gentleman's Mag. II. 591:
What wi da swyne, an da fokk, an da goilgruve o' da middeen. . . .Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 143:
The nettles are buried in the gulgraave o' da vyeadie (open drain) of the byre.Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 152:
Du haes somethin far mair lively Dan guilgruff or bizzie flaw.