Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BARM, v. Obs. or arch. in St.Eng. according to N.E.D. Not given in the Concise Eng. Dict. nor in the Un. Eng. Dict.
1. tr. To mix yeast with or into wort.Sh.4 1933.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D.Bnff. 216:
I hae jist new deen o' barmin' the wort.Mearns 1819 J. Burness Plays, Poems, etc. 309:
Some rolls he did forget to barm.Fif. 1930 (per Per.5):
Barming the tuns. Putting the necessary yeast in the wash-backs.
2. intr. To ferment.
(1) lit.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D.Bnff. 216:
The ale's barmin' up.Abd.4 1932:
It's ill ale 'at barms i' the brewin' an' soors i' the newin' [said to a young person who tired of her work and ran away from it].w.Lth. 1933 (per Lnl.1).
(2) fig. or extended use. See quot. from Abd.7Sh.4 1933:
Shu wis juist barmin (she was very angry).Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 22:
"He wur fer fae plazed, a'll tell thee. He didno tak' id in a philosopheecal wey at all. In fact, he wur ferly barmin'. He chissed me roond the ferm wi' a scythe, an' then when he caamed doon a bit I telt him that id wur cheust the luck o' the game, an' that life wur full o' ups an' doons, an' that the next time wur luck might be in. I suggestit that he shid save some more money, an' I wid pit id on a better horse the next 'ear, bit he widno hear o' id." Cai. 1992 James Miller A Fine White Stoor 123:
' ... Ye dinna believe me because ye think I'm drunk and barming my head off. But it's true. ... ' Bnff. 1901 J. S. Rae in Bnffsh. Jnl. (6 Aug.) 2:
An' a' Sandy's tales barmed up in oor heid.Abd.(D) 1916 G. Abel Wylins fae my Wallet 50:
If britherheed is ony wye, An' love that barms an' wirks.Abd.7 1925:
Barmin', rising as barm does on beer. Thus we have temper “barmin',” or a storm barmin' in the sky, or one belching gas from the stomach, who is said to be barmin' up win' like a barmin' bowie.em.Sc. (a) 1895 “I. Maclaren” Bonnie Brier Bush 208:
He said no a word on the wy back, but a' saw it wes barmin' in him.Rxb. 1824 The Fearfu' Hinderend in Rym. Club Misc. (1912–1919) II. 46:
His conscience it barmed, and his carcase it shook.Slk. 1825 Jam.2:
Barm. To fret, to fume, to rise gradually into a rage.
3. vbl.n. barman, barming.
(1) The act of mixing yeast with wort to cause fermentation.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D.Bnff. 216:
A wiz at the barman o' the bowie, fin the gauger cam in o' the closs.
(2) fig. Interest accruing upon money.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail xx.:
My father, in his testament, ordained me to hae a hundred a year out of the barming o' his lying money.
4. ppl.adj. barman, fermenting.Sh.4 1933.Ork.(D) 1880 W. Dennison Orcad. Sk. Bk. 105:
Like frothe oot ower a barman' luggie Or ka'f oot o' a windo' cubbie.
