crewels, n. pl. Sc.
(ˈkruːəlz)
Also cruels.
[f. F. écrouelles scrofula.]
The king's evil, scrofula.
| 1660 J. Lamont Diary (1815) 154 (Jam.) The Lady Balcleuch..had the cruells in hir arme. 1721 Wodrow Hist. II. 445 (Jam.) His right hand and right knee broke out in a running sore, called the cruels. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xlvii, Having a beloved child sick to death of the Crewels. 1824 ― St. Ronan's ii, ‘A puir body's bairn that had gotten the cruells.’ 1880 Antrim and Down Gloss., Cruels, the king's evil. |