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: 1500-1512, 1584-1585
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(Scommer,) Skomer, Skummer, v. Also: skimmer, skymmer. [Late ME scombre ‘(of a dog or a fox) to evacuate the fæces' (OED, c1400), skommer (1576), also (1596) to void (ordure), lit. and fig., aphetic f. OF descombrer (mod. F. décombrer).] intr. To defecate. — c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 114.
Bettir thow ganis to leid ane doig to skomer [M. skummer] … than with thy maister pingill a1585 Polwart Flyt. 813 (T).
Lieand lymmer, mony trimmer, I man skymmer [H. I shall skimmer] in thy mowthe
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"Scommer v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/scommer>
