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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

EEMIR, n., v. n.Sc. form of Eng. humour. Also eemer, eemur.

I. n.

1. Mood (Abd.¹³ 1910, Abd.⁹ 1943).Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 120:
For there's naebody can mak' ye mair uncomfortable nor an 'oman fin she's in a kittle eemur.

Hence (1) phr. to queel one's eemirs, to assuage excited feelings; (2) eemersome, moody, changeable (Abd.²⁷ 1950), but gen. applied to a person of jolly disposition.(1) Abd.⁴ 1929:
This 'ill queel yer eemirs tae ye — said to one tramping through snow.(2) Abd. 1949 Buchan Obs. (29 Nov.):
This evening . . . was spent in “coontin' the links o' the crook,” unless there happened to be an “eemersome breet” among them to . . . suggest a game of cards.

2. An eruption of the skin (Abd.²⁷ 1948). Cf. Eng. dial. humour, id., a boil.Abd.¹⁵ 1928:
It's some eemir comin' oot on him.

II. v. To humour.Abd. a.1778 in J. B. Pratt J. Fleeman (1912) 36:
Ye're wantin' out, are ye? Weel, I'se eemer you for ance.Abd. 1922 J. Wight in Swatches 63:
“Needs ye speer, Ockie?” she said, makin' up her min' tae eemir the breet.