Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1771, 1877-1949
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DIM, Dimm, n., adj., v. Also in Eng. dial.
1. n. Dusk; twilight; the summer night between sunset and dawn, esp. the short midsummer night; also used fig. for a time of anxious waiting, a long time, esp. when a person has been absent during the day and returns at nightfall (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), dimm; Sh.10 1949); also intensive dimmer.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 24:
Fae da rivin' o' da dim, Till da sun is in da water.Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 14:
An da flaachterin laverik is settin da dim Wi a sang as sweet as an angel's hymn.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
Du's been dee a dim aboot it.Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 19, 26:
He'll be a dimmer afore I darken dye doorstep ageng!
Phrs. and Combs.: (1) de dabb o' (de) dim(m), the darkest part of a midsummer night, summer midnight (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); 1949 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 130); (2) de head o' (de) dimm, = (1) (Sh. 1825 Jam.2; 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1908 Jak. (1928)); (3) da hert o' da dim, id.; (4) de korr o' dimm, the quietest part (dead) of a midsummer night (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); (5) de (da) swa(a)r o' de (da) dim(m), = (1) (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl.); (6) dimmriv, dawn in summer (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); 1949 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 131); see Riv; (7) dim(m)set, nightfall (in summer) (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), dimm-). Cf. day-set, id., s.v. Day, n., 4.(3) Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 23:
What shö could a seen apon him [photograph] apo da hert o' da dim I sall lave you a' ta consuder.(7) Sh. 1771 Kirk Sess. Rec. Walls and Sandness (1 June):
Thomas Frazer Senr. in Seater declares that the said sow wt 2 Gryses was Bool'd in Turdail about Dimset and found nixt morning . . . lying in the same place.Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 248:
Ae night we wir harrowin' till dimset.
2. adj. Dark (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.).
3. v. To grow dusk.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He's dimmin, the darkness is falling.
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"Dim n., adj., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/dim>
