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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.

EEM, Eame, Eme, Emm, Eyme, n.2 Uncle; orig. used to refer to a mother's brother only, later applied to a father's brother also, and hence to a gossip or familiar friend. Arch.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 251:
Many Aunts, many Emms, many Kinsfolk, few Friends.
Sc. 1724–27 Ramsay T. T. Misc. (1733) 182:
And Rob my eem hecht me a stock, Twa lusty lips to lick a ladle.
Sc. 1751 W. MacFarlane Geneal. Coll. (S.H.S.) II. 537:
Never to quarrel William Melvill about the slaughter of Umquhill Sir James Kinninmond his Eyme.
Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xii.:
Didna his eme die and gang to his place wi' the name of the Bluidy Mackenyie?
Kcb. 1896 S. R. Crockett Grey Man x.:
I have a letter to send my eame the Tutor in the morning.

[O.Sc. eme, etc., from 1350, uncle, also used in more general sense from beginning of 16th cent.; Mid.Eng. e(e)me, O.E. ēam, id.; cf. Du. oom, Mod.Ger. oheim.]

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"Eem n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/eem_n2>

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