Forms: 5 crufe, 5–6 cruif(e, 5–8 cruve, 8 crove, 4– cruive. [Originally Scotch, and retaining its Sc. spelling in sense 4, in which it has passed into legal and general use. The various forms point to an original *cróf-, of which nothing seems to be known. In senses 1 and 2, CROO and cruive are synonymous: cf. also CREW2. Sense 4 suggests connection with corve, CORF and its family.]
1. A hovel, cabin. Sc.
c. 1450. Henryson, Fables, Wolf & Lamb (Bannatyne Poems). The pure husband hes nocht But cote and crufe, upone a clout of land.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., V. iii. I that very day Frae Roger’s father took my little crove [rhyme love].
2. A pen for live stock, esp. a pig-sty. Sc.
c. 1575. Balfour, Pract., 588. Gif thair be ony swine cruivis biggit on the fore-gait.
1597. Skene, De Verb. Sign., s.v. Creffera, Hara porcorum, ane cruife, or ane swines cruif … quhilk in sum auld buikes is called ane Stye.
1883. J. Purves, in Longman’s Mag., April, 648. The neighbours lean over the sow’s ‘cruive’ or sty.
3. A kitchen-garden enclosure. (Orkney.)
1868. D. Gorrie, Summ. & Wint. Orkneys, v. 269. Plantie cruives—deserted cottage kitchen-gardens.
4. A coop or enclosure of wickerwork or spars placed in tide-ways and openings in weirs, as a trap for salmon and other fish.
14[?]. Sc. Stat., I. 469. Al þai þat hes cruffis [croas] or fyschingis … or mylnys in watteris quhar the se cumis and gangis.
1599. A. Hume, Hymnes, Day Estival. The salmon out of cruives and creels Uphailed into scouts.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Treat. 139. To execut the Acts of Parliament made anent Salmond fishing, and cruves.
1769. Pennant, Tour Scot. (1771), 117. Beneath are some cruives, or wears, to take Salmon in.
1834. Medwin, Angler in Wales, I. 330. The pool … is too shallow for salmon, who run into the cruives.
1862. Act 25–6 Vict., c. 97 § 6 (6). General regulations with respect to … The construction and use of cruives.
