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.
JAMIE, prop. n. Also Jemmie, -y. 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.
