Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

CAMERAL, CAMEREL, Cawmril, Kameril, Kemerel, n.¹ “A spawned haddock” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 24, cawmril, Bnff.² 1936, cawmril, kemerel; Abd.²⁵ 1936). Also attrib. [′kɑm(ə)rəl, ′kɛm(ə)rəl]ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore of N.-E. Scot. 146:
The saying about the spawned haddock, “harrowster,” or “kameril,” is that it is not good till it gets three dips in the “May flood.”Bnff. (Sandend) 1935 (per Mry.⁴):
Haddocks spawn in March, and when a lanky, sharp-backit haddock or haddocks came in on the small lines, the fishermen would say: “Here's a Mairch Kemerel or Camerel.”Mearns [1826] R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes (1870) 200:
There is an alost universal notion that the young of this fish (haddock), at least, are best after a little of May has gone. Thus in the Mearns — A cameral haddock's ne'er guid Till it get three draps o' May flude.