Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1826, 1881, 1935
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CAMERAL, CAMEREL, Cawmril, Kameril, Kemerel, n.1 "A spawned haddock" (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 24, cawmril, Bnff.2 1936, cawmril, kemerel; Abd.25 1936). Also attrib. [′kɑm(ə)rəl, ′kɛm(ə)rəl]ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore of N.-E. Scot. 146:
The saying about the spawned haddock, "harrowster," or "kameril," is that it is not good till it gets three dips in the "May flood."Bnff. (Sandend) 1935 (per Mry.4):
Haddocks spawn in March, and when a lanky, sharp-backit haddock or haddocks came in on the small lines, the fishermen would say: "Here's a Mairch Kemerel or Camerel."Mearns [1826] R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes (1870) 200:
There is an alost universal notion that the young of this fish (haddock), at least, are best after a little of May has gone. Thus in the Mearns — A cameral haddock's ne'er guid Till it get three draps o' May flude.
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"Cameral n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Sep 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/cameral_n1>
