Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†FLAMB, v. Also flam(m). [flɑm]
1. To baste (meat, etc.).Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 93:
Every Man flamms the fat Sow's Arse.Sc. after 1746 Jacobite Minstrelsy (1829) 286:
They flamm'd his carcase weel wi' that.Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xiii.:
The iron ladle with which she had just been flambing the roast of mutton.
Hence flamer, flam(m)ing spoon, a basting ladle.Mry. 1708 E. D. Dunbar Social Life (1865) 212:
A flesh hook and flaming spoon.Inv. 1722 Steuart Letter-Bk. (S.H.S.) 176:
Pleas buy for my wife ane iron spit and brander . . . and fleshcrook and a flamer.Sc. 1868 G. Webster Strathbrachan III. 596:
Pewter ashets . . . flamming spoons . . . drainers, drudge-box.
2. “To besmear one's self with the food which one is eating” (Cld. 1825 Jam.).
[O.Sc. has fla(w)me, to baste, a.1540. flammer, a basting ladle, 1639, O.Fr. flamber, to singe, a variant of flammer, to flame.]
