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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FAEM, n., v. Also faim, fame, feam; feem. Sc. forms of Eng. foam. See P.L.D. § 32.1, 164.1. [fe:m, but Ork. fi:m]

I. n. Foam, froth (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 201; Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl. 30, fame; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 240); spray, spume; fig. the ocean. Hence faemy; faimie (Sc. 1820 Scots Mag. (May) 424), adj.Ayr. 1786 Burns Scotch Drink ii.:
Whether thro' wimplin worms thou jink, Or, richly brown, ream owre the brink, In glorious faem.Sc. 1803 Scott Minstrelsy III. 65:
To Noroway, to Noroway, To Noroway o'er the faem.Sc. 1827 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 4:
Bob-bobbin amang the fresh, cool, murmurin, and faemy wee waves.Bnff. 1869 W. Knight Auld Yule 26:
I wasna sleepin', Rab was in a faem O' sweat, that drookit's like a burnie stream.Kcb. 1890 A. J. Armstrong Ingleside Musings 19:
For my heart is leal to the lad I lo'e — My laddie awa on the faem.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 85:
An, aa aboot, da sea is faem an blibes.Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. iii.:
Peter wis cuttin' ae day, an' got intae sic a faem o' heat 'at his watch meltit in his pooch.Ags. 1932 Scots Mag. (July) 304:
The tides o' sorro, lapt ower my heid And left them white as faem.ne.Sc. 1991 Lilianne Grant Rich in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 23:
There at its heichest sclims the rinnin tide
Scatterin the bairnies' game -
Slappin the fisher-hooses' side
Wi green-white faem.

II. v. To foam, froth (Abd.⁷ 1925); to gush (Ork., w.Sc. 1887 Jam.; Ork.⁵ 1951). Also fig. to boil with rage (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai.⁹ 1939).Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 55:
What spies she coming, but a furious man, Feaming like onie bear, that ever ran.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 193:
A cog o' yill did on the gantry faem.Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poems I. 194:
He seeks his bonnet; he his lass; The swats faim round and round.Ags. 1827 Montrose Review (31 Aug.) 277:
Nae quack-made pills, — nae faemin' barm.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 67:
A roar in my lugs, an' fite, faimin', fa'n' water afore my een.Ork. 1949 “Lex” But-end Ballans 22:
The tears feemed doun like de sea.