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.
Quotation dates: 1786-1822, 1880, 1936-1939
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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.