Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1813, 1900-1950
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SHIM, n., v. [ʃɪm]
I. n. A horse-hoe or scuffler, a kind of very shallow double-sided plough, usu. mounted in a set of three for weeding and earthing up between drills (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 154; ne.Sc. 1970). Also in Eng. dial.Mry. 1813 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. 116:
In the operation of hoeing the drill sown turnip, there are several simple implements mounted to a small plough beam and handles, with some slight difference in the iron cutting part, which, in general, are named shims.Abd. 1900 Scottish Farmer (20 Nov.):
The “shim” or single-drill harrow.Abd. 1950 Buchan Observer (4 July):
Where the shim is fitted with duck-foot tines.
II. v. To use a horse-hoe, to weed, etc., with a shim (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 154; ne.Sc. 1970).Abd. 1949 Huntly Express (15 July):
Cultivating between the turnip drills: what farmers in this area call shimmin'.
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"Shim n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/shim>
