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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CURMUR, Carmur, v. and n. [kʌr′mʌr, kər′mʌr]

1. v. To purr as a cat.Sc. 1831 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) III. 246:
They two [cats] sit curmurring, forgetful of mice and milk, of all but love!

Hence curmurrin(g), carmurran, vbl.n., a low rumbling sound; applied to: (1) flatulence (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff.², Abd.⁹, Ags.¹⁷, Fif.¹⁰ 1941; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.); (2) “the purring of a cat” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); (3) “a murmur of talk” (Mry.¹1925; Abd.⁹, Fif.¹⁰ 1941); (4) the singing (of a kettle); (5) “a grumbling or complaining” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); “a source of grumbling” (Bnff.⁹ c.1927), a vexation.(1) Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality viii.:
A glass of brandy to three glasses of wine prevents the curmurring in the stomach.Ayr. 1787 Burns Death and Dr Hornbook (Cent. ed.) xxvii.:
A countra laird had taen the batts, Or some curmurring in his guts.Gall. 1934 S. McQuha in Gallov. Annual 42:
There was the new convert, Roberts, wi' his face buried in his hands, groanin' as if he had a carmurran.(3)Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 60:
Richt aff, Tullio raxxed roon tae face Ines an she booed forrit tae him. An sae, while I wis takkin tent o the drivin, they sterted a richt cosie curmurrin, jist like fowk in luve, or aboot tae fa in luve. (4) Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage, etc. 59:
Yet on drowsy afternoon There is naething like the croon Or curmurrin o' the kettle.(5) Edb. 1915 T. W. Paterson Auld Saws 121:
But ye'll be the fules, gin ye lend him yer lugs, Or lippen to a' his curmurrin, an' rantin.Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 8:
Until the doctor gets me cuitered up again, I maun . . . warsle awa with the ga' and the spite of this curmurrin' of a calamity.

2. n. (1) The purring of a cat. Cf. Kurnow.Hdg. 1885 “S. Mucklebackit” Rural Rhymes and Sketches 206:
The sleepy cur-mur o' the auld gray poosie cat on the hearthstane.

(2) A painful rumbling (in the stomach) (Bnff.², Abd.², Fif.¹⁰, Kcb.⁹ 1941).Kcb. 1911 G. M. Gordon Clay Biggin' 41:
The gutsy auld body had owereaten hersel', an' brocht on an awfu' curmur i' her wame.