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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

REEMLE, v., n., adv. Also reemel.

I. v. 1. To cause or give forth a sharp, tremulous noise (Bnff. 1968). Hence reduplic. comb. reemle-rammle, v., to make a great deal of noise in moving an object or in romping around. Vbl.n. reemle-rammlan, the act of making a noise, noisy behaviour; n., a great noise, noisy behaviour, a loud wordy speech (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 142); adv., noisily, in a noisy, confused manner.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 142:
Dinna reemle on the fleer. . . . He strack the bench, and gart a' the dishes reemle. . . . He reemle-rammlet amo' the bowies. . . . He ran reemle-rammle through the fouck. . . . He caed the hail concern reemle--rammle thegeether.

2. To move, shake or push, so as to cause an uneven, noisy motion (Bnff. 1968).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 142:
He reemlet the bowie o' the fleer. . . . He reemlet a muckle stane roon the ootside o' the hoose.

3. Of light: to move with a tremulous motion, to flicker. Nonce.Sc. 1933 W. Soutar Seeds in Wind 27:
The reemlin' licht afore me Gaed up, the wind stude still.

II. n. 1. A sharp tremulous sound or motion (Bnff. 1968); a confused mass of fallen masonry or the like.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 142:
The peet-stack fell a' doon in a reemle.

2. The meaning is uncertain, phs. a nonce usage = a noisy, jolting part of a vehicle. But phs. a different word.Abd. 1958 People's Jnl. (6 Dec.):
Ben tae the back reemels o' the buss he gangs an' sits doon.