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.
Quotation dates: 1922-1949
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GRIMET, adj. Also greemit, -ed, gre(i)mit. Also deriv. grimelt (Ork.5 1955). [′gri:mət]
1. Soiled, begrimed (Sh. 1880 Jam. greimit), dirty in the face, esp. of a face having dirty streaks (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., gremit, 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh., ‡Ork. 1955); discoloured, patchy. Also in Eng. dial.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 22:
Dey wir a braw coarn o' grund swall, an hit wisna lang afore I noteeced Kirsie's face turnin' kind o' greemit laek.
2. Of cattle: having a white face with dark spots or stripes (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw., greemit; Sh. 1955).Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 120:
The “shumed coo” was one having a wide white stripe down the face, while the “greemed coo” had spots on the face.
3. Of the earth: “covered with a very thin layer of snow, esp. with bare patches here and there, when a thaw has set in” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1955). Cf. Grime.
[Norw. grimet, dial. -utt, Faer. grimutur, streaked, striped, begrimed, esp. of the face. See further note to Grime.]
