Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HARM, n., v. Also herm. hairm, hirm. [hɑrm, herm, hɛrm, hɪrm]
I. n. Sorrow, grief, distress (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), harm); phr. herms (harms) and wallowa, lamentation, a noisy quarrel (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928)).
II. v. 1. To grumble, to be peevish or fretful (Ork. 1887 Jam., harm; w.Sc. Ib., hirm); to bewail, lament (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Vbl.n. harmin, hirmin, peevishness, fretfulness (Ib.). Hence hairmer, a grumbler (Cld. 1825 Jam.).
2. To dwell on a trifling fault or misfortune, to “harp on” at a person about something (Cld. 1825 Jam., hairm).
3. With after: to hanker for (Ork. 1929 Marw.); to imitate in some way, mimic (Ib.). Also in n.Eng. dial.
[Forms of two different origins have been confused, viz. O.N. harmr, sorrow, grief, harma, to bewail in n. and v., 1. and 2., and Norw. dial. herma, O.N. herma, to repeat (after), to mimic, in v., 1., 2., and 3.]
