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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SCRIMP, adj., adv., n., v. Also skrimp.

I. adj. 1. Scant, meagre, in short measure, barely enough, deficient (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 106, 1808 Jam.). Gen.Sc. Now also in colloq. Eng.Edb. 1709 Edb. Courant (25–27 May):
A letter of Mark Ship chased them afterward for 3 Hours, but the Wind being scrimp, she could not come up to them.Sc. 1723 W. MacFarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 60:
There is also about a large quarter of a mile, or scrimp half mile from the church an other good foord.Sc. 1736 Crim. Trials illustrative of “H. Midlothian” (1818) Pref. ix.:
Leaving nothing to himself but his scrimp maintenance.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 19:
They never minded mair but meet an' daut, An' thought the time but scrimp enough for that.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 47:
Send our scrimp ell-wand owr the sea, To measure laws.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan I. viii.:
Weighing the butter sharp and the wool scrimp in the scale.Abd. 1879 G. Macdonald Sir Gibbie xxxvi.:
A curse upon scrimp measure.Hdg. 1903 J. Lumsden Toorle 198:
Siller wi' him, like sense, is scrimp.Rxb. 1918 Kelso Chronicle (25 Jan.) 3:
After harvest our allowance at meal times began to get more scrimp.Slg. 1932 W. D. Cocker Poems 73:
But their mercy was scrimp.

Derivs. (1) scrimply, adv., barely, scarcely, in a scanty, meagre manner; (2) scrimpness, scantiness, deficiency, esp. in wits, simple-mindedness; (3) scrimpy, skrimpy, scanty, inadequate. Also as a n., short for scrimpy measure. All Gen.Sc.(1) Bnff. 1720 Banffshire Jnl. (8 Sept. 1885) 3:
Scrimply provided for out of the collections which are very small.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 213:
Content eneugh, gif they ha'e wherewithal Scrimply to tack their body an' their saul.Ayr. 1786 Burns Vision i. xi.:
Down flow'd her robe, a tartan sheen, Till half a leg was scrimply seen.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xii.:
Where perfection is the ellwand it is nae marvel if ordinary mortals come scrimply up to the standard.Dmf. 1894 R. Reid Poems 29:
The win' sae lown Can scrimply gar the stey peat-reek play swirl.Edb. 1900 E. Strain Elmslie's Drag-Net 223:
It's scrimply half-six yet.Slg. 1935 W. D. Cocker Further Poems 80:
Whiles it's but scrimply they fen'.(2) Dmf. 1950:
There is a scrimpness about him.(3) e.Lth. 1883 J. Martine Reminiscences 172:
Chap him, Sandie. and gie him scrimpie.Bnff. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 22:
Noo' neen o' yer scrimpy mizzur.Sc. 1925 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 351:
They're sich wee bit things. Bit ye're a' alike, a scrimpy lot.

2. Specif. of clothes: short, constricted (I., ne. em.Sc. (a) 1969).Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 38:
They'll scarce row up the Wretch's Feet, Sae scrimp they make his Winding-sheet.Abd. 1778 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 29:
Plain was her gown, the hue was o' the ewe, And growing scrimp, as she was i' the grow.Sc. 1854 S. Tytler Phemie Millar I. ii.:
Mrs. Millar in a scrimp dark green woollen dress.

3. Of numbers: limited, sparse, bare.Sc. 1708 Fountainhall Decisions (1759) II. 446:
This being given by a scrimp plurality.Sc. 1734 R. Keith Hist. Church Scot. 328:
The Queen sent away the King with a very scrimp attendance.Sc. 1767 J. Maclaurin Crim. Cases (1774) 722:
The Lord, by a scrimp majority, found no assythment due.

4. Of persons: having a scanty supply, pinched, in want (Sh., ne.Sc., Ags. 1969).Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 361:
Then be not on repining bent, However scrimp or bare.Edb. 1851 A. Maclagan Sketches 149:
Baith scrimp o' claes an' scant o' food.Edb. 1916 T. W. Paterson Wyse-Sayin's xxx. 9:
Gin I were scrimp, I micht steal.

5. Niggardly, parsimonious, ungenerous, sparing. Gen.Sc. Hence scrimpie, adj., id. (Abd., Ags. 1825 Jam.); scrimply, adv., in a stingy, sparing or niggardly manner.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 1.:
A Saul sae scrimp and rude.Per. 1816 J. Duff Poems 13:
Had Scotia scrimply lent her muse.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie vi.:
Andra is a warm-hearted creature, and would be o'er scrimp in the severities of justice.Sc. 1864 J. Brown Jeems the Doorkeeper 5:
Nature had finished off the rest of Jeems somewhat scrimply, as if she had run out of means.Edb. 1873 A. Wanless Poems 106:
Folk, dinna be scrimp, 'twill gi'e life a relish, To be couthie and kind to the Poor o' the Parish.Per. 1897 C. M. Stuart Sandy Scott's Bible Class 39:
The Master is'na scrimp in His dealings.Gsw. 1904 H. Foulis Erchie ii.:
A flittin' dram's by-ordinar; ye daurna be scrimp wi't.Abd. 1992 David Toulmin Collected Short Stories 42:
He's a bittie scrimp wi the measure-joog.

II. adv. Scarcely, barely, almost but not quite. Gen.Sc.; in a sparing parsimonious manner.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 264:
Made of a red stamped English stuff, which is scrimp three quarters wide.Kcd. 1796 J. Burness Thrummy Cap (1887) 10:
Ye hae scrimp two mile to gang.Rnf. 1813 E. Picken Poems I. 68:
There's scrimp a strae to draw between us.Sc. 1834 M. Scott Cruise Midge xi.:
I can scrimp deny that same.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 195:
It wasna scrimp dune, but baith haill and intack.Sc. 1928 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 348:
Aboot the claes that cover us too scrimp.

III. n. Insufficiency, meagreness. Rare.Sc. 1824 R. Chambers Poet. Remains (1883) 21:
‘Bout the length o' her warp and the scrimp o' her waft.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 13:
Caald flesh, pickit ingans, an nae skrimp o laif.

IV. v. 1. tr. To restrict in supplies, to keep on short commons, to stint (Sc. 1808 Jam.); intr. to be frugal or parsimonious, to economise. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1745 S.C. Misc. (1841) 414:
To scrimpe my self to give monie to raise my proportione of men volenteers.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 53:
Was she scrimped of content or heal?Edb. 1772 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 90:
[They] dinna scrimp ye o' a skair O' kebbucks frae their pantries.Edb. 1801 J. Thomson Poems 13:
Dinna scrimp them o' their meat.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet xii.:
I hope you will not tell the Edinburgh fine folk that the Provost has scrimped you of your cogie, as the sang says.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 138:
That I maun even be sae scrimp't o' time, As no to hae an hour to spare on scrawlin'.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xviii.:
Mony ane wha scrimpit themsel's to haud him livin' at haik an' manger.Per. 1895 I. Maclaren Auld Lang Syne 288:
Dinna think a'm scrimpin' masel' or daein' onything mean.Abd. 1931 J. H. Hall Holy Man 68:
Scrimping and saving for years at my sewing to add a bit to your bursaries.Abd. 1952 Buchan Observer (6 May):
If a higher percentage grade may be obtained it is “ill hadden in to skrimp the feeders.”

2. tr. To restrict or cut down in amount, to be niggardly with, to use or consume frugally. Gen.Sc. Phr. scrimp-the-cog, a nickname for a parsimonious farmer's wife.Ayr. 1786 Burns Lines on a Bank-note 4:
For lack o' thee I scrimp my glass.Ayr. 1822 Galt Entail xxix.:
Noo' Doctor, dinna scrimp the prayer, but tie a sicker knot.Sc. 1827 T. Hamilton Cyril Thornton I. xiii.:
Guidin', and managin', and scrimpin' a' things to save yer substance.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan II. xii.:
D'ye mind that simmer night aneath the trysting thorn, wi' scrimp-the-cog of Fourmerkland?Edb. 1866 J. Smith Merry Bridal 6:
Daft Kate Cargill, frae Cocklebrose, Wha scrimpit Geordie's bicker.

3. In ppl.adj. scrimpit, -et, -ed, scrimpt, scanty, deficient, inadequate (Sc. 1825 Jam.); cramped, restricted, undersized; stinted; niggardly, mean. Gen.Sc. Also adv. barely, scarcely, scantily, constrictedly. Hence, scrimpitly, scrimpitness.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. i. i.:
A Mind that's scrimpit never wants some Care.Slk. 1726 Edb. Ev. Courant (4 April):
A Piece of Plate to be run for upon the Gallarig, each Heat to be twice out and in, and is scrimpt four Miles.Sc. 1776 D. Herd Sc. Songs II. 137:
But as the truth is, I'm hearty, I hate to be scrimpit or scant.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 277:
Never pin'd for scrimpitness o' gear.Ayr. 1821 Galt Annals iii.:
His maiden-sister, Miss Girzie, was the scrimpetest creature that could be.Slk. 1829 Hogg Shep. Cal. (1874) iii.:
Mony a poor and scrimpit meal.m.Sc. 1842 A. Rodger Stray Leaves 109:
And though their first busking was scrimpitly braw, They had a bit cozie beginning o't.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 155:
A mad bard, wha, scrimpt hauf-witit, Doth vagaries chace.Abd. 1865 G. Macdonald Alec Forbes lxxix.:
I wrote to Mrs. Forbes twa or three times, but I got but ae scrimpit answer!Ags. 1897 Bards Ags. (Reid) 181:
O' wee German Lairdies they'd roond her a raw, Starvin', an' scrimpit, mis-shapit and sma'.Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 15:
And sae their claes are scrimpit-bun'.wm.Sc. 1934 “Uncle Tom” Mrs. Goudie's Tea-Pairty 29:
Dinna be sae scrimpit wi' the steak-an-veal pie.Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 13:
He bocht aal wizzent horse an kye
An scrimpit muck an seed;
Syne, clocherin wi a craichly hoast,
He dwine't awaa, an dee'd.