Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1796-1847, 1925-1928
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‡GLIME, v., n. Also gleim. Common in n.Eng. and I.Ma. dial. [gləim]
I. v. To look askance, to take a sidelong glance, to squint, to look slyly or shyly (Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); “to view impertinently with a stolen side-look, continued for some time” (Upp. Lnk. 1825 Jam.).Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck iii.:
In half an hour they had sic a squad gathered thegither as e'e never glimed on.Slk. 1820 Hogg Winter Ev. Tales II. 182:
I keeks an' I glimes about, till, faith! I sees his blue murt fin.Dwn. 1844 R. Huddleston Poems 18:
Anon th' enamoured clown was glimin', Across niest Bess whare she was chimin'.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 319:
An' whyles ne'er a word he can find oot to say, For glentin' an' glimin' at Meggie M'Givelry.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 21–22:
A bit beekin callant, . . . eis airm up ti shade eis een, gleimed gleide against the sun's licht as A cam up.
II. n. A sidelong look, a sly glance (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), “an indiscreet look directed sideways towards an object for some time” (Upp. Lnk. 1825 Jam.).Gall. 1796 J. Lauderdale Poems 37:
His slee address promotes a laugh, Wi' wink and glime.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 126:
Alike wi' me yer glooms, an' glimes, an' smirkin.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 18:
But, still an' on, he had the time To gi'e't a skeery passin' glime.
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"Glime v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/glime>
