Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1907-1916
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BLEEM, n. ne.Sc. form of Eng. bloom. See also Blume, n. [blim ne.Sc.]
1. "Bloom" (Mry.1 1925); "esp. applied to the yellow blossom of whins gathered by children to dye eggs" (Bnff.2 1935).
2. The potato plant.Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 65:
"He dell'd ip twathry bleems" — he dug up a few potato plants.
3. In pl., "bleems, potato-tops" (Cai.4 c.1920).Cai. 1916 J. Mowat Caithness Proverbs 12:
A local worthy, who was contrasting youth and old age, used this figure — "The young spring up in a nicht like mushrooms, and the auld fa awa lek tattie bleems in 'e mildew."
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"Bleem n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bleem_n>
