Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1832-1916
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DENUMB, Denum(m), v.
1. “To confound, to perplex, to stupify” (Abd. 1825 Jam.2, denum). Often used imprecatively. Ppl.adj. denummt, denumpt, “stupified; in a state of stupor” (Bnff., 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 222); stupid (Abd. c.1920 G. F. Duncan), confounded (Abd.2 1940, denumpt).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 222:
He's a denummt idiot t' gang an' dee the like.Abd. 1852 A. Robb Poems 192:
Ye say the Deacon tells a lee; A lee! denumb your skin.Abd. 1862 J. Skinner in Bnffsh. Jnl. (26 Aug.) 6:
You'll be surprised, I ken fu' weel To see a douf, auld-warld chiel Denumb you wi' a ragmareel.Abd.24 1916:
Ye denumpt rascal! Gin I hid a haud o' ye, I'd claw the back o' ye.Bch. 1832 W. Scott Poems 24:
An' that they can assail the human kind, Confeeze their senses, and denumb their minds.
†2. “To stupify by incessant foolish talk” (Mearns 1825 Jam.2).
3. Used as an expletive = damn all, absolutely nothing. Cf. 1. Fif. 1862 St Andrews Gaz. (8 Aug.):
The mair ye speak t' a woman when you've nae commaund owre her, is juist like steerin' up a fire made wi' English coal, an' denum ahint it.
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"Denumb v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/denumb>
