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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

Quotation dates: 1839-1880

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KIRMASH, n. Also karmash; kirmas, curmas (Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 144). A crash, noise and confusion, a hullabaloo (Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 152, 1929 Marw., Ork. 1960).Ork. a.1840 Sc. Antiquary V. 69:
Indeed, with all their care, they made a nasty karmash (catastrophe) aloft one day.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 133:
Twa'rt'ree tang-cows afore him lay; I' them he dang his rivlin tae, An' meed a new kirmash.

[Cf. Eng. kermis, 17th c., carmas, kirmish, ad. Du. kermis, Mid.Du. kerck-misse, orig. the mass celebrated on the anniversary of the dedication of a church, later the fair held on this occasion. The word may however have been thought of as a comb. of pref. kir-, variant of Cur-, q.v. + Eng. mash, hence the change of stress to [kər′mɑʃ].]

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"Kirmash n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/kirmash>

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