Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1818-1842, 1894
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TIMORSOME, adj. Also tim(b)er-, timoursum. Nervous, timid, fearful (Cai. 1905 E.D.D., timoursum; Uls. 1953 Traynor; em.Sc. (a), wm. and s.Sc. 1972). Obs. in Eng. exc. dial.Sc. 1818 Scott Letters (Cent. Ed.) V. 134:
Mrs. S. is rather timbersome, so up got I, with Beardie's broadsword under my arm.Sc. 1842 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 55:
Tylers, ye ken, are aye timorsome.Sc. 1894 S. R. Whitehead Daft Davie 284:
Most of us lassies couldna help casting timorsome looks behind us.
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"Timorsome adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/timorsome>
