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: 1824-1951
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‡DWAMLE, n., v., adj. Also dwaumle, dwamel, dwammel.
1. n.
(1) A sick or faint turn (Abd.9, Arg.1 1941; Ayr.4 1928; Kcb.1 c.1900).Arg. 1882 Argyllsh. Herald (3 June):
Dannie himsel has had a bit dwammel an' he's a wee donsie since syne.Ayr. 1832 Galt Stanley Buxton III. 208:
To let any weak, silly lassy fall with the dwamles of love.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 95:
The dwamel aff, he skellies roun', But cou'd na see a bee.
(2) Derivs. (i) dwamlock, a very sickly person (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 190); (ii) dwamly, adj. sickly, unwell, out of sorts (Fif. 1957). (ii)Lnk. 1951 G. Rae Howe o' Braefoot 18:
D'ye see yon dwamly man dichtin' the sweit frae his broo enoo?
2. v. “To faint, or look like fainting” (Ib.), to pine away. Ppl.adj. dwamlin, shaky (Abd. 1916 (per Mry.2); Abd.27 1951).Ayr. 1868 J. K. Hunter Artist's Life 38:
He dwaumled till he died.
¶3. adj. Fainting, in a swoon.Abd. 1922 G. P. Dunbar Doric 28:
But ere 'twas twined she ta'en the grue, An' dwamle lay her leen.
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"Dwamle n., v., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/dwamle>
