Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GLIMMER, v. Sc. usages: to blink, to wink, to look unsteadily (Sc. 1808 Jam.), to blink, as from defective sight (Cai. 1900 E.D.D.; Bnff.7 1927; Ork., Ags., Arg., Ayr., Kcb. 1954). Ppl.adj. glimmerin, of eyes: half-closed; peering as if short-sighted (Bnff.16, Abd. 1954). Comb. glimmer-e'ed, id. (Ayr. 1954). With owre: to overlook, to wink at, be tolerant with.Rnf. 1754 Session Papers, Cumming v. Cross (8 Dec.) 2:
John Cumming holding his Hand on his left Eye, which glimmered a little when he took away his Hand.Sc. 1799 A Butter'd Slice 12:
His ha'f-steek'd een began to glimmer.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 344:
The miller's muse, tho', is unfit To praise thee, Johnie, for thy wit, But, like a wise man, ye'll submit To glimmer owre me.Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 160–161:
They fix their glimmerin een upon your face . . . and keep nid-noddin upon you . . . the blue-veined violet eyelids close.Cai. 1829 J. Hay Poems 130:
Which threw her braidways on her rump, Till baith her een did glimmer.Abd. 1839 A. Walker De'il at Baldarroch 32:
O Whisky, thou's a subtile limmer, . . . But mony ane thou's made to glimmer.
