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.
Smeddum, -om, Smedome, n. [OE smeodoma, (glossing L. polenta), smetuma (glossing L. simila), smedman. Cf. 17th c. Eng. smitham: ‘Your malt-dust which is the sprout, come, smytham and other excrements of the malt’ 1620 Markham Farew. to Husb. (1625) 61 (OED). Also in the later dial.] The finest particles of ground malt; the fine particles of grain, lost in the grinding process and treated as refuse. Also attrib. —1667 Edinb. B. Rec. X 31.
That the millers nor non in their names sweip any smedome or swne meet within four els of the hoper or trough and what they sweip without that to be laid in the farthest corner of the mill and that their be no selling of it 1667 S. Ronaldshay 56.
That she did grind half ane meale of malt, and stole half one [pr. any] setting of the smeddum 1696 Dysart Rec. 56.
That … the foresaid persons … did suffer a bag of malt to fall in the mill lead whereby the greatest part of the substance thereof is exhausted … the haill smeddom being all consumed by the fall —attrib. 1667 Edinb. B. Rec. X 32.
The court gives power to the brewers … or any uther that apprehendeth the said smedome selling or careing it away any farder bot for the use of the millers their own swyne to [etc.]
