Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866-1904, 1999
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RHYME, v., n. Also Sc. forms: ryme, r(h)ime (Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 45), rheime (Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 15); ¶raeme (Bwk. 1856 G Henderson Pop. Rhymes 60). Sc. usages:
I. v., intr. with away, on, ower: To repeat, reiterate, drone on in a monotonous manner (Sc. 1904 E.D.D.; Bnff., Per., w.Lth., Lnk., Kcb., Rxb. 1968). Also in n.Eng. dial.; to talk nonsense, drivel (Kcb., Uls. 1968). Cf. Rame.Dmf. 1873 A. C. Gibson Folk-Speech Cmb. 127:
Sweethearts a score I whyles rhyme ow'r — their names, Bell, Barbara, Bess.m.Sc. 1902 J. Buchan Watcher by Threshold 246:
She would rhyme on about the black cruelty of it.Ayr. 1999:
He's aye rhymin (oan) aboot somethin.
II. n. Deriv. r(h)ymeless, rimless, without reason, meaningless; of persons: irresponsible, reckless, ineffective (Kcd. 1822 Kinloch MSS.; Abd. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1968).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D.Bnff. 143:
He's a rhymeless gowk fin he aince begins.Abd. 1904 E.D.D.:
He's a rymeless kin' o' a breet.
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"Rhyme v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/rhyme>
