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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

YIRM, v., n. Also ye(a)rm, yairm (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); yarm; ¶irm (Sc. 1887 Jam.). [jɪrm, jɛrm]

I. v. 1. To whine, wail, of an animal (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), most commonly in a transf. sense, of human beings: to complain, keep talking querulously, harp on about something, to nag, beg importunately (s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; s.Sc. 1974). Vbl.n. yirmin, complaining, whining, and in comb. yermin-fond, very anxious, extremely eager (Bwk. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 222), see Fond, adj.Slk. 1831 Hogg Poems (1874) 367:
They yermit and flaitte a summer's day Of what was to be done.Sc. 1834 Tait's Mag. (Aug.) 494:
Our Radical yirming, and yirping, and discontent.Clc. 1860 J. Crawford Doric Lays 31:
I hear a yirmin' i' the blast! — ‘Let in a wander'd bairn!'Lnk. 1893 J. Crawford Sc. Verses 72:
Sae dinna let us yirm or fret.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse 107:
Whit's the maitter wi' ye, Jimmock? Wull this yirmin' never cease?Rxb. 1969:
Did ee ever see sic a wumin? She's aye yirm, yirm, yirmin' on aboot something.

2. To chirp, cry, or sing, of a bird or insect (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 501).Hdg. 1903 J. Lumsden Toorle 112:
The cushies aye yirm ‘Coo-coo!'Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse 26:
Craiks are yirmin'.

II. n. A wailing, querulous sound. Comb. death-yirm, the wheezing of a dying person, the death-rattle.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 22:
The death-yirm gethers in my throat.Lnk., Gall. 1882 Jam. s.v. yurn:
Yurn and yurm are applied to the whimpering fretfulness of a sickly child.