A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375, 1438, 1500-1535
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Skirming, Scrymmyng, vbl. n. Also: skyrmyng, skrymming, scrmyn. [Skirm v. Cf. Scarmis(c)hing vbl. n.] Skirmishing; darting. 1375 Barb. xix 525.
Thar wes ilk day iustyn of wer And scrymyn [c. scrymmyng, H. skirmisching] maid full apertly ?1438 Alex. i 1077.
It is not licht To distroy thame; but thy skirming Geuis to vs all recomforting ?1438 Alex. ii 2854.
Thare was ane chyld that playit At skirming and himself assayit [F. Laiens ot j varlet qui jouoit d'escremie] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 164/123.
The fowlis That come with ȝawmeris and with ȝowlis, With skryking, skrymming and with scowlis To tak him 1535 Stewart 7829.
[They] remanit … Dalie in weir the space of ȝeiris tua; With mony skyrmyng oft syis to and fro 1535 Stewart 38900.
Ane lang quhile thair he la, With greit scrymmyng and carmusche euerie da
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"Skirming vbl. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/skirming>
