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.
DENUMB, Denum(m), v.
1. “To confound, to perplex, to stupify” (Abd. 1825 Jam.2, denum). Often used imprecatively. Ppl.adj. denummt, denumpt, “stupified; in a state of stupor” (Bnff., 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 222); stupid (Abd. c.1920 G. F. Duncan), confounded (Abd.2 1940, denumpt).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 222:
He's a denummt idiot t' gang an' dee the like.Abd. 1852 A. Robb Poems 192:
Ye say the Deacon tells a lee; A lee! denumb your skin.Abd. 1862 J. Skinner in Bnffsh. Jnl. (26 Aug.) 6:
You'll be surprised, I ken fu' weel To see a douf, auld-warld chiel Denumb you wi' a ragmareel.Abd.24 1916:
Ye denumpt rascal! Gin I hid a haud o' ye, I'd claw the back o' ye.Bch. 1832 W. Scott Poems 24:
An' that they can assail the human kind, Confeeze their senses, and denumb their minds.
†2. “To stupify by incessant foolish talk” (Mearns 1825 Jam.2).
3. Used as an expletive = damn all, absolutely nothing. Cf. 1. Fif. 1862 St Andrews Gaz. (8 Aug.):
The mair ye speak t' a woman when you've nae commaund owre her, is juist like steerin' up a fire made wi' English coal, an' denum ahint it.
