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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GLOAM, v., n. Also glome, glom. [glo:m]

I. v. To grow dusk, to grow dim, to darken. Also in n.Eng. dial. Ppl.adj. gloam't, gloamd in phr. to be gloam't, to have grown dusk (Lth. 1825 Jam., gloamd; ne.Sc., Ayr. 1954).Abd. 1705 in T. Mair Ellon Presb. Rec. (1898) 292:
When it gloamed, he saw them returning on foot.Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St Patrick I. xi.:
By this time it was turn't gayan gloam't, an' the high scaurs looket . . . elrichlike.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie 36:
Then O gie the wanderer a hame for the day, When the eenin gloams, she'll be aff an' away.Dmf. 1874 R. Reid Moorland Rhymes 94:
Row'd close thegither aneth ae plaid When lichts were gloamin' and winds were laid.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 107:
When the day has, dookin', gloamed, And nicht comes owre the parks.Bch. 1929 Abd. Univ. Review (March) 131:
Ae winter aifterneen it cam on snaw . . . an' afore A got ta the kirkyard o' Fetterangus it wiz gey gloam't.Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 25:
Syne, indraacht o a breath, the lift gloams ower.

II. n. Twilight, a faint light, a dull gleam (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Abd. 1954).Slk. 1744 Session Papers, Emmond v. Magistrats Selkirk (19 June) 30:
Upon the Evening of the 16th of September last, after glome. Ayr. 1892 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 256:
Frae glint o' day to gloam.Gall. 1928 Gallovidian 45:
Fu' blithely do they prance an' shout amid the eerie gloam.ne.Sc. 1954 Mearns Leader (9 July) 3:
Molie hid spottit him in the gloam.