Show Search Results Show Browse

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡KARM, n. Also kaarm. In gen., a (poor) state or condition of things (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.); of the spirits: a bad humour, agitation, excitement. Specif. used of a disorderly heap or pile of something wet or dirty (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., kaarm, 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1959). Gen. in phr. in a (puir or bonnie, ironical) karm (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 114:
He left the milk i bonnie karm An i a hol did spunder.

[Orig. doubtful. The above assumes the source as Norw. karm, case, frame, border, O.N. karmr, id., later extended to mean condition, as in Eng. “frame of mind”; for the meaning of a wet heap, cf. Faer. karmur, sodden clothing.]

You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.

"Karm n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/karm>

16141

snd

Hide Advanced Search

Browse SND:

    Loading...

Share: