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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

EEMAGE, n. Sc. form and usages of Eng. image. Also emage, eemige; eemeedge (Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 10). [′imɪdʒ Sc., but Sh., Rxb. ′imidʒ]

1. A figure fashioned by the fairies to resemble and be substituted for a child they desire to steal.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 90:
Ae morning just i' da first dim-rivin' dey swüped dis eemage oot among da ase, an' oot trow da door, and . . . in comes a beautiful bairn wi' yallow curlin' hair, an' just da very face o' what dere ain bairn sud a been.ne.Sc. 1881 Gregor Folk-Lore 61:
That's nae a bairn; that's an image; the bairn's been stoun.

2. A ghost of one's former self; a pitiful little “scrap”; a “sight” (Sh.¹⁰, Ork.⁵, Bnff.², Abd.², Bwk.³ 1945). Also found in Eng. dial.Sc. 1828 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 119:
Here, perhaps, a leevin cretur, like an emage, staunin at the mouth o' a close, or hirplin alang, like the last relic o' the plague.Bnff. 1872 W. Philip It 'ill a' come richt 19:
He gaed into Aberdeen last weenter a stout healthy callan wi' a fund o' life in him, and he came back an eemage.Ags. 1887 A. D. Willock Rosetty Ends 65:
Wear absurd hats . . . an' itherwise mak' images o' themsel's.Sh. 1924 T. Manson Humours Peat Comm. III. 41:
It wid never du ta leave da eemige o a boy i da hoose himsell aa nicht.