Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
DAIMEN, Daiman, Dem(m)in, adj. Rare, occasional (Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems, Gl.; Upp. Deeside 1917 (per Abd.8), demmin; Dmf. 1825 Jam.2, demmin, 1894 J. Shaw in Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 145, daiman; Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn., demin). Known to Lnk.3 a.1900. [′dɛmɪn]Sc. 1822 A. Cunningham Tales II. 159:
The Scotch . . . have something of a poetical way of displaying their affections, which they treasure too for great occasions, or, as they say, “daimen times.”Sc. 1936 J. G. Horne Flooer o' the Ling 25:
Nane did I fin', But daimen buds O' jagged yellow whin.Ags.17 1939:
I once asked a fisherman if he had caught many trout in the Esk. He replied, “A daimen ane or twa.”Ayr. 1786 Burns To a Mouse iii.:
A daimen-icker in a thrave 'S a sma' request.
Phr.: at (by) a daimen (demin') time, occasionally.Wgt. 1880 G. Fraser Lowland Lore 160:
Folk may tak' it easy by a demin' time, but they wud really need to shear some.Dmf. 1939 Our Lallan Leid in Sc. Educ. Jnl. 234:
In Dumfriesshire I once asked a farmer if he ever went to see a football match at Palmerston Park. “At a daimen time,” said he.
