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.
Quotation dates: 1805
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JAMIE, prop. n. Also Jemmie, -y. (Ags. 1883 J. Kennedy Poems (1920) 221), Jeamy (Rnf. 1703 W. Hector Judicial Records (1878) 165), Jemmoo (Ork.), and with alternative dim. ending Jam(e)oc (Rnf. 1827 W. Taylor Poems 40; Lnk. 1833 Whigs of Scot. II. xxii.), Jamock (Bnff. 1869 W. Knight Auld Yule 42), Jamick (Mry. 1872 W. Tester Poems 189). Dim. or pet forms of James, corresponding to Eng. Jimmy (Sc. 1720 A. Pennecuik Helicon 80; Ayr. 1789 Burns Kirk's Alarm xi.; Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley xxxix.; Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie i.; Kcb. 1896 Crockett Grey Man xxviii.; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 164). See also Jeems. Sc. hypocoristic forms of James. Combs.: †1. Jamie Duffs, weepers, pieces of crape or linen sewn to the sleeves or hat as a sign of mourning, so called from a simple-minded fellow of this name who had a craze for attending funerals in Edinburgh in the 18th c. (Sc. 18th c. E. Brewer Reader's Handbook (1925) 539). See J. Kay Orig. Portraits (1842) I. 7.; 2. Jemmy-linkum-feedle, see quot.; 3. Jamie Moore, in phr. to have been talking to Jamie Moore, to be drunk (Sc. 1896 Farmer and Henley Slang IV. 37). [′dʒɛmɪ]2. s.Sc. 1805 J. Leyden in B.M. Add. MSS. 26561:
These friblish characters which on the Border we call a “Jemmy-linkum-feedle”, too conceited to be pleased with natural feeling, too shallow to fathom his subject, and too vain to deny his reader the perusal of his most trifling and common-place remarks.
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"Jamie prop. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/jamie>
