groak

Etymology

Unknown. Adapted into English from the Scots groak, growk with an unchanged meaning; groak in Scotland and growk in Ulster. The earliest recorded English usage of this term is as grouk in 1808 (see sense 2).

noun

  1. Someone who waits at meal-times with the expectation of getting something to eat.
  2. A wistful look by a child on any article greatly desired.

verb

  1. To stare or look fixedly at someone; esp. of a child or dog in anticipation of receiving food.
  2. To look at someone with a watchful or suspicious eye.“Grouk is often used, as denoting the watchfulness of a very niggardly person, who is still afraid that any of his property be given away or carried off.”