Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NYARM, v., n. Also nja(a)rm. [njɑ:rm]

I. v. To make a querulous, mewing or bleating sound (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh., Ork. 1964). Ppl.adj. njarmin, bleating.Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 18. 43:
It seemed that the effects department felt that njarmin yowes, klaagin maas and a laverick's sang sufficiently evoked the aural atmosphere of a Shetland simmir scene!Sh. 1956 Sh. Community Mag. No. 2. 17:
A lamb nyarms on da hill ower by.

II. n. 1. A bleating, quavering sound in singing.Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat Comm. 140:
Dir no njaarm wi dem . . . I mind Eppie Renelson's midder. What a lovely njaarm shu hed!

2. A fisherman's taboo-name for a cat, sc. the mewing one (Jak.).