Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1780, 1833
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†LUMBIE, n. A worn Sc. half-penny of the 17th c. on which the mintage has become rubbed out (see quot.); fig. anything obscure or unintelligible.Gsw. c.1780 Glasgow Past and Present (1884) II. 225:
The genuine old Scotch halfpence with the thistle had become much worn and a great proportion of them were wasted away to perfect smoothness, the stamps on both sides being obliterated. These got the name of lumbies.Ayr. 1833 Galt Stanley Buxton I. v.:
Neither me nor my master can make heads or tails of this lumbie as I may call the letter.
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"Lumbie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/lumbie>
