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.
Quotation dates: 1787-1831, 1885-1934, 1996
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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.
