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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

GUM, n.¹ Also g(u)im (Per., Fif., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson), goom (Sc. 1732 in Six Saints (D. H. Fleming 1901) II. 106).

Sc. usages and forms of Eng. gum. For ne.Sc. forms, see Geem and for Sh. form, see Goom. [‡m. and s.Sc. gøm, gym, gɪm]

Sc. form (Sh., Ags., Ayr. 2000s):Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 78:
My granfaither wad hae deed for a pan drop.
He'd sook them day an' nicht
wi toothless tortoise gooms leathert
aifter monie years withooten denturesm.Lth. 1992:
Ma gooms are stounding efter eatin that nippy cheddar.

Sc. usage in comb. gum-stick, †-stock, (1) a stick (or other object) used by a child while teething (m.Lth., Ayr. 1955); †(2) a fishermen's taboo-name for the “kavel- or kavlin-tree, a cylindrical piece of wood with a small crook of iron at the end, for extracting the hook when the fish has swallowed it too far down” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)), gen. in Sh. form goom.(1) Sc. 1748 H. Tayler Seven Sons of the Provost (1949) 215:
My wife is to send her a gum stock. The town of Edin. could not afford a coral for it, which is sent for to London.Sc. 1769 W. Buchan Dom. Medicine 23:
A crust of bread is the best gum-stick.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch (1898) vi.:
Welsh flannel petticoaties — demity wrappers — a coral gumstick, and other uncos.Gsw. 1838 A. Rodger Poems 130:
Royal babies! Royal prattles, With Royal gum-sticks, bells, and rattles.