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: 1679-1700+
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Scrimp, Skrimp, adj. Also erroneous form: scrip. [Origin obscure; cognate forms are Sw., Dan. skrumpen shrivelled, Germ. schrumpfen to shrivel, ME shrimp a diminutive creature.]Common in later dial. Cf. Crimp adj.
Scanty, meagre, barely adequate. Also, a scrimp plurality a narrow majority.(1) 1679 Lauder Notices Affairs I 244.
Though the thing was true, yet the probation was scrimp 1680 Fountainhall Decis. I 92.
It was proven he had been 42 days in Edinburgh … which they found enough to give a domicil. … This seemed very scrimp; for law should [etc.] 1680 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 204.
Yee will imediatlie … cause summond the parties … since in strict poynt of law yee will be scrimp enough in tyme 1684 Cramond Ch. Alves 53.
The minister declared that the gleib was exceeding skrimp and short of what the law did allow 1694 Fountainhall Decis. I 599.
The Lords found his letter … very scrimp; yet considering the mercatorian stile, they sustained it 1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 6.
The wind shifted … to east and by south, which was too scrimp to fetch Zetland 1702 New Mills Manuf. 296.
Ther are severall of the ends scrip in the measure(2) 1698 Fountainhall Decis. I 818.
The Lords, by a scrimp plurality of six against five, assoilȝied Sir William 1699 Ib. II 46.
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"Scrimp adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/scrimp>
