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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BRUMMLE, BRUMMEL, BRIMMLE, n. Sc. forms of Eng. bramble, the shrub Rubus fruticosus, but gen. used in Sc. to indicate the fruit, the blackberry. Known to Abd.2, Ags.2, Fif.10, Lnk.3 1936. [brʌml, brɑml Sc., but ne.Sc. + brɪml]ne.Sc. a.1835 J. Grant Tales of the Glens (1836) 63:
He ran crashin' through the hawthorns and the brimmles.
L.Bnff. 1934 J. M. Caie Kindly North 60:
He's seein', an' hearin' the sough o' the win', Or a fisher loon getherin' brummles.
Edb. 1876 J. Smith Archie and Bess 86:
What huntings for haws an' brummels at Colinton.
w.Dmf. 1903 J. L. Waugh Thornhill xvi.:
The rasps and the brummles we got at Rashbriggs.

[O.Sc. brimbil, brymmyll (1513), a bramble (D.O.S.T.), Mid.Eng. bremmyll, O.E. brœ̄mel, brēmel, with late shortening in brembil (gen. brembles), brimbil, see Sweet H.E.S. p. 170.]

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