Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡IMMIS, adj. Also immas; emmis, eemis, †yeemmies. [′ɪmɪs, ′ɛmɪs]

1. Of the weather or the atmosphere: variable, uncertain (Ags. 1808 Jam.); dark, gloomy, misty (Bnff. 1808 Jam.; Abd.² 1945); chill, having every appearance of rain (Ayr. 1825 Jam.; Rnf. Ib., yeemmies).Abd. 1875 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 219:
It was a freely immas nicht, wi' byous coorse ploiterie road.Bnff.² 1945:
It's an immis nicht; there's nae a starn t' be seen in the lift.

†2. Of land or crops grown upon it: unfruitful, unproductive, not dependable as to productivity.Ags. 1808 Jam.:
This term is applied to seed that is difficult of culture, or is frequently unproductive. Ground which often fails to give a good crop, is called immis land.

3. Of an object: insecurely balanced, unsteady; also used adv.Ags. 1825 Jam.:
“That steen stands very eemis,” that stone has not a proper bottom.Sc.(E) 1926 H. McDiarmid Sangschaw 23:
The warl' like an eemis stane Wags i' the lift.