Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†BREEM, Brim, adj.
1. Keen, fierce, violent. Given in N.E.D. s.v. breme as obs. in St.Eng. except poet. and dial. Applied both to persons and the weather.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Popular Ballads I. 235:
For the Kelpie brim is out. [brim, grim, terrible (Gl.)]Sc. 1820 Marmaiden of Clyde in Edin. Mag. (May) 424:
We beek oursells on the faimie heaps, When simmer suns are breem.n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
“A brim frost,” is still a common phrase for a severe frost.
2. “Bleak, exposed to the weather. Perhaps as originally applied to a place open to the sea-breeze” (Dmf. 1825 Jam.2, brim).
[Origin unknown, unless associated with Breem, v., q.v. Breme, furious, is present in O.Sc., also brim, adj., fierce, furious, (a) of persons or animals, (b) of disposition, desire, (c) of fire, wind, sea (D.O.S.T.).]
