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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Trim, Trym, adj. Also: trim(m)e, trymm, tryme, trume. [e.m.E. tryme (c1521), trim (c1530), trymme (1542).]Trume may represent an editorial misreading of minim strokes.

1. Well-ordered, just, precise; proficient, able; exactly suited to what is required; appealing or suitable in the manner of doing something; excellent.(a) 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 353.
Quhen ȝe, prencis, doith laik ane officiar … Ane trym tailȝeour, ane counnyng cordonar [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II 18/5.
Gif peraduenture ony thing ouerslippit be me cum in the handis of haly men … tha na thing suld repreue … forsamekle as tha see, that ȝit be a promist emendatioun, this is to be maid mair trim 1567 Inv. Q. Mary lxxxviii n.
The meit, … wes brocht throw the gret hall vpon ane trym engyn, marching as apperit it alain 1588 King Cat. 207.
The prophet has putt a trimme distinction betuix the deathe of the iust, and the deathe of the reprobat 1562-92 Wode's Psalter (ed.) 191.
Francy Heagy, sumtyme ane noveice in the abbay of Sanctandrous, maid this fyft pairt to this si quis diligit me and was a trim player upon the organs 1596 Dalr. I 30/3.
His flesche was all girssillie bot of a trim taist c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxx 47.
Sen Thow hes grantit me so gude ingyne To luif Thé, Lord, in galland style … Lat me no moir so trim ane talent tyne c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 52.
Mr. Gilbert a trimme divine died yong c1650 Spalding I 206.
And maid wp ane trym company about 2000 men 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 25.
He [sc. Paul] was as trim a legalist as the best of you(b) 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 879.
Ane burges man … Having a trvme schop in the toun a1585 Polwart Flyt. 551 (H).
The blaired bucke and bystour … Hes right trume [T. trim] teathe, … Ane toped turde right tewchlie for to taw

b. In sarcastic use: Smart, clever. 1562-3 Winȝet I 52/35.
Thai wald thraw the exempill of the conversioun of St. Paull to be a trim cloke and excuis of thair euersioun 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 71.
[He] Betrayed thame bayth with a tryme convoy 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 133.
Thir ar trime conclusions worthie of sik lernit Sophists

c. adv. Proficiently, so as to exhibit excellence. a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlvi 4.
Quhat pylett takis my schip in chairge, Mon hald hir clynlie, trym, and ticht 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xl 118.
In Latine toung his propernes Was tryit trim quhen scollers wer present

2. Neat, comely, attractive in appearance, fine, elegant. Also proverb. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2693.
Ȝe maryit men that hes trym wantoun wyffis … Permyt thame nocht to passe in pylgramage 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8135.
Trew men thame callit als trim as termigantis 1567 G. Ball. 37.
Ȝe set on schone vpone his feit, The quhilk are trim and wounder meit 1567 Sat. P. iii 169.
Hir lauchter lycht be lyke to trim Thysbie a1570-86 Maitl. F. 440/100.
Thay snyt thocht thair na mister be That ȝe may thair trim napkyne se 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii 302.
Than spak ane lawers wyfe, baith trym and gent a1578 Pitsc. II 15 heading.
How the Erle of Lennox and the Erle of Bothwell strave quha suld be trimest and pleasandest in the queins sicht a1578 Pitsc. II 17 marg.
[They] provydit thame quho sould be trymmest in thair abullȝement a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 327 (W).
The trie so hich of growth and trime [: clime] As ony arrow evin 1579, 1617 Despauter (1617) 125.
Como, to dresse or make trimme 1670 Lamont Diary 218.
One of the women … said he had a trim hand. He replyed, for als trim a hand it was, ther was ane ill turne in his handproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1773.
Ye are a trim man and it were to beare a banner before a blind yow

b. specif. Of words or discourse, in pejorative sense: Superficially attractive, beautified; artful; ornate. a1561 Norvell Meroure 62a.
I could haue showne many trim storeis, That wolde haue pleased, persons mundiall, Hauing delite, into suche vanities 1560 Rolland Seven S. Schort Schawing 3.
At the requeist of my ant callit Cait, In roustie ryme this quair I did translait Of all trim termis as ȝe may se denude, Becaus scho me protestit air and lait All strange termis to cast out of my gait 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 68.
Ane lytill quair … Embrowd about with barbarus termes bland And with trym termes maist vsit vp on land 1562-3 Winȝet I 60/18.
Sen we controuertit nocht with our aduersaris for trim talk, bot for the trying of the trewth—nocht for deckit vanitie, bot for the æternall veritie 1567 Sat. P. vi 11.
With rurall termis, and sentences denude Of trym figuris, and painted oratrie

c. adv. Finely, in an attractive manner. c1590 Fowler I 354/15.
To thé [sc. Love] these louers doe complaine … Thou … Attyres them trim & to ther leache Thou leides them in thy lace

3. Trimmed, furnished with a trimming (as specified). = Trimmet ppl. adj. 1643 Edinb. Test. LX 235b.
Ane dossane of trime blak gloves estimat all to xxj lib. xij s.