Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RHYME, v., n. Also Sc. forms: ryme, r(h)ime (Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 45), rheime (Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 15); ¶raeme (Bwk. 1856 G Henderson Pop. Rhymes 60). Sc. usages:

I. v., intr. with away, on, ower: To repeat, reiterate, drone on in a monotonous manner (Sc. 1904 E.D.D.; Bnff., Per., w.Lth., Lnk., Kcb., Rxb. 1968). Also in n.Eng. dial.; to talk nonsense, drivel (Kcb., Uls. 1968). Cf. Rame.Dmf. 1873 A. C. Gibson Folk-Speech Cmb. 127:
Sweethearts a score I whyles rhyme ow'r — their names, Bell, Barbara, Bess.m.Sc. 1902 J. Buchan Watcher by Threshold 246:
She would rhyme on about the black cruelty of it.Ayr. 1999:
He's aye rhymin (oan) aboot somethin.

II. n. Deriv. r(h)ymeless, rimless, without reason, meaningless; of persons: irresponsible, reckless, ineffective (Kcd. 1822 Kinloch MSS.; Abd. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1968).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D.Bnff. 143:
He's a rhymeless gowk fin he aince begins.Abd. 1904 E.D.D.:
He's a rymeless kin' o' a breet.