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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.

GRIME, v. Also gryme, greim. To sprinkle, cover with a thin layer (esp. of snow), to fleck. Commonly in vbl.n. (Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 28; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; sm.Sc.. Rxb. 1955). Also in Yks. dial. [grəim]Sc. 1802 Scott Minstrelsy I. 81:
The sun was na up, but the moon was down, It was the gryming of a new fa'n snaw.
Gall. c.1900 Gallovidian (1912) XIV. 188:
As the gloamin' fa's saft ower the cottage an' Ha', An' the hillsides are clad in a grimin' o' snaw.
Rxb. 1902 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. (March) 12:
Old people invariably talked of . . . a gryming o' snaw.
s.Sc. 1913 A. & J. Lang Highways & Byways 263:
In the winter when snow first “grimes” the hills.
Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 7:
The sunny blinks, keekin throwe atween the leafs, spurtelt the road wui greimeens o licht.
Sc. 1931 I. Burnett The Ravens 261:
A gryming of soft dry snow lay on the surface of the ice.

[In form the same word as Eng. grime, of Flemish orig., with extension of meaning. For a semantic analogy cf. the cog. Norw. dial. grim, fine shower of snow or rain, grima, to make streaky or dirty, a smut on the face, all having the common implication of a smudge or streak. Cf. Grim, adj.1, Grim, adj.2, Grima, Grimet, 3., Grimlins.]

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