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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CUMBLE, KUMBEL, CUM'LE, KUML, v. and n. Also coomle. [′kʌm(b)əl; ′koməl (Jak.)]

I. v. To turn upside down (Sh. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl., cumble; 1908 Jak. (1928), kuml; 1914 Angus Gl., kumbel). Sh. 1898 Sh. News (9 April):
Risin' an' cumblin' da lid o' a pail ower da bowl.Sh.(D) 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 99:
Whaur doo [old boat] lies cum'ld on da knowe — Weel wis doo wirt a better noost.

II. n. The act of capsizing. Phr. to gae in coomle, to capsize, heel over. Sh. 1972 Tocher No. 8. 253: 
Shö [a boat] struck three times, and then, shö just god right in coomle.

[A Sh. variant of Whummle, q.v., the wh having become kw- or kv- with subsequent dropping of the w or v before u on the analogy of Norse words in kv-.]

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