scraugh

English

Noun

scraugh (countable and uncountable, plural scraughs)

1. (Scotland, countable) A screech.
   • 1819, Sir Walter Scott, The Bride of Lammermoor:

     Allan Ravenswood, that was then master, wi' a bended pistol in his hand, - it was a mercy it gaed na aff, -- crying to me, that had scarce as much wind left as serve the necessary purpose of my ain lungs, 'Sound, you poltron! sound, you damned cowardly villain or I will blow your brains out !” and, to be sure, blew sic points of war, that the scraugh of a clockin-hen was music to them.

   • 1867, John Wilson, The Works - Volume 1, page 198:

     The old woman o'er the way To our cheer a scraugh gave back ;

   • 1976, Abraham Merritt, Hannes Bok, The fox woman and The blue pagoda and The black wheel, page 93:

     She haird the scraugh, and Mr. Boriloff frighted her half asleep as she was, by sayin' the R- r- revolution is corne!

2. (Ireland, uncountable) Sod.
   • 1855, Kilkenny Archaeological Society, Transactions of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society:

     The sod, or scraugh, which had been used to cover the mouth of the vessel, and prevent the bones which it contained from falling out, still held together.

   • 1881, David Power Conyngham, The O'Donnells of Glen Cottage: A Tale of the Famine Years in Ireland:

     I also have the scraugh I took from the field behind the house, and every time I looks at it I thinks of the poor ould home.

   • 1887, Chambers's Journal - Volume 64, page 543:

     Some thought that he must actually have swum under water till he was beneath the scraugh, so as to render rescue impossible and make sure of anathema!

Scots

Verb

scraugh

1. To screech.