Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1880-1961
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SKRIME, v. Al.so skryme, skreim, scrime; skrim (Jak.). [skraim]
1. tr. To distinguish with difficulty, to see indistinctly, because of poor light or distance (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 201; Ork. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 XV. 96; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh., Ork. 1970). Also fig. Vbl.n. skriming in phr. the first (or last) skrimings o' daylight, the first (or last) gleams of daylight (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 38:
He skrimed Black Jock drawan circles roond hersel wi a muckle needle.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (4 June):
I bit dimly skrime Da days, when we baed drave da sea.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He said he saw a boat coman' roond the point, but I could not skrime her.Sh. 1950 New Shetlander No. 20. 43:
Dere, still ta be skrimed against da nicht, a black solid tooerin shape, stude da dess.
2. Absol. To peer, to look with half-closed eyes, to look closely (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl.; I.Sc. 1970). Also with about, through.Sh. 1955 New Shetlander No. 41. 8:
As we stöd an' skrimed aboot wis, we saa ta right an' left a score o' idder grey stane krangs.Sh. 1961 New Shetlander No. 57. 9:
Whin I scrime troo a paper or twa.
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"Skrime v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/skrime>
