Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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STREAMER, n., v. Also ¶streamour-.

I. n. 1. In pl.: the aurora borealis (Per., Kcb. 1971). Now poet. or dial. in Eng. Hence streamoury, flashing with streams of light like the aurora.Mry. 1775 L. Shaw Hist. Mry. 148:
The Aurora Borealis (from its desultory motion, called Merry-dancers and Streamers).s.Sc. 1803 J. Leyden Scenes Inf. ii. xxxv. note:
It is a popular opinion among the Scottish peasantry that the northern lights, or aurora borealis, generally termed by them streamers, first appeared before the Scottish rebellion of 1715.Sc. 1810 Scott Lady of the Lake iv. ix.:
Shifting like flashes darted forth By the red streamers of the north.Ayr. 1812 A. Boswell Works (1871) 101:
Swift o'er heaven's arch the streamers ran.Slk. 1828 Hogg Poems (1874) 329:
She [a heron] flapper'd and she flew, And left a streamoury track behind!

2. The male minnow near spawning-time in midsummer when it comes up streams in great numbers, poss. so called because of the variegated scarlet and purple hues which its skin then assumes (Rxb. 1915 Jedburgh Gaz. (3 Sept.) 2; Lnk., Ayr. 1971). Also in n.Eng. dial.Rxb. 1921 Kelso Chronicle (11 Nov.) 4:
Crimson streaked minnows — streamers we called them.

II. v. 1. To deck or adorn with streamers, flags or pennons, to shape (a flag) like a streamer. Poet.Sc. 1814 Scott Lord of Isles i. xv.:
Lord Ronald's fleet swept by, Streamer'd with silk.Sc. 1824 Blackwood's Mag. (Sept.) 283:
The streamer'd flags of far-spread realms shall meet.Sc. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Revolution II. vi. iii.:
All is marching, streamering, and blaring.

2. To cover with a shimmering variegated light like the aurora.Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck i.:
After the last rays of day had disappeared, and again in the morning before they began to streamer the east.