Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1836-1968
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0]
SKIMP, v., n. Also shkimp-, skyimp-, skjimp; skim (Ork.). [sk(j)ɪmp]
I. v. tr. and absol. To poke fun (at), to banter or indulge in raillery (with), mock, speak sarcastically (about) (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., skjimp; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1970). Ppl.adj. skimpin, joking, scoffing (Edm.). Phr. to hae gotten on one's skimpin-shune, id. (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).Sh. 1836 Gentleman's Mag. II. 593:
Ta gaar aa da fokk i wirr ples ta tink it I wiz skimpin demm.Sh. 1862 Shetland Advert. (3 Nov.):
I tought Adie wiz only skimpin' me.Sh. 1900 Shetland News (19 May):
Doo wid only skjimp an' laugh.Sh. 1931 Shetland Times (14 March) 7:
I nivir wis muckle o' a een fir skjimpin' ony unkan body.
II. n. Raillery, good-humoured banter, mild sarcasm or mockery (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1970). Hence skimpfoo, skyimpy, sarcastic (Sh. 1970).Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 93:
Dy skimp is wilcome.Sh. 1879 Shetland Times (2 Aug.):
Nane ever heard a shkimpfoo wird frae dem.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (15 May):
Skimp, I can tell dee, düsna suit dee.Sh. 1950 New Shetlander No. 20. 25:
Da sam auld fun and skimp.Sh. 1968 New Shetlander No. 84. 18:
I tocht him very skyimpy.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Skimp v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/skimp>
