A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1567-1609
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(Scamel,) Skemmill, Scamble, Skambell, v. [e.m.E. scamble (1539); Scamel n.] intr. To sponge or scrounge. — a1568 Bannatyne MS 158b/74.
Be his hois be pointtit vp and schone on his feit He gois to skemmill vp and doun To drynk he is evir meit 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 8b.
Povertie maks such sort of people turne cunny-catchers, … skambell, beg and borrow of their betters 1604-9 Ib. 19.
They goe scambling like butchers dogs in Lentron
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"Scamel v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/scamel_v>
