Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
LOOM, v.1, n.1 Also loum; ¶loam. [lu:m]
I. v. As in Eng.: to appear indistinctly as out of a haze or shadow. Vbl.n. loumen, a blurred appearance or outline; loomin, twilight (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Abd. 1831 Aberdeen Mag. (Dec.) 641:
Out on the trackless sea, wi' a'thing mirk and unkent about us, nae a loumen o' moon nor starn was to be seen in the hale wilkin.Bnff. 1844 T. Anderson Poems 62:
Whan pearly dew draps deck the lea, An' night's dark shades are loamin' Sae calm that day.Gsw. 1862 J. Gardner Jottiana 32:
An' enterin', I looked ben the room An' saw some women on me loom.
II. n. The indistinct appearance of anything seen through a haze or at a great distance, a haze or fog (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 325; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Sh., Ags., Per., Ayr., Kcb., Uls. 1961).Kcb. 1899 Crockett Anna Mark xxvii.:
Far away to the right the loom of the land through the midday heat.
Hence loomy, hazy, misty.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 333:
Whiles glowring at the azure sky And loomy ocean's ure.
