A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1628-1650
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Scam, Skalm, v. [Later Sc. dial scam. to scorch, 19th c. north. Eng. dial. scam to stain, blotch, discolour (also scaumy blotched), Norw. skjemma, Sw. skämma to spoil, mar.] tr. a. To spoil, damage. b. To scorch. —a. 1628 Stirling Merch. Guild 47.
Reffusing the said clayth … becaus the same is skalmit be salt watter be the lek of the ships —b. c1650 Spalding II 386.
Ane fyrie cross of tymber, quhairof everie point of the cross wes scamit and brynt with fyre
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"Scam v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/scam>
