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.
MEGRIM, n. Also megram, megrin; maigrum; meagrim. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. megrim, a variant of migraine.
1. Specif. in Abd. applied to earache (Abd.4 1928).Abd. 1905 Banffshire Jnl. (18 April) 7:
I fin' the fyakie warm an' snug, I fin' the megrim in ma lug.
2. A whim, a caprice, a preposterous notion (Slk. 1825 Jam.; Ayr. 1928; Per., Fif., Lnk., Uls. 1962).Dmf. 1806 Scots Mag. (March) 207:
A deep, a dungeon-headed billie, Ne'er tak' a maigrum in his head, And lay a tax on cheese an' bread.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 477:
Few megrams ever enter Willie's head.Ayr. 1892 in H. Ainslie Pilgrimage Intro. 24:
Converse with the Muse was a safety valve that permitted escapement of megrins.Sc. 1896 L. Keith Indian Uncle 22:
Ellen, too, if she can leave the meagrims behind for once.
3. Derivs. megriment, megerment, an agitation or flurry, a pickle (Ork. 1962); a headlong, impetuous mood, a restless unsettled feeling; an ailment, disease (Sh. 1962). Also megerdom (Jak.).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Der'r a megerment com' ower me de day; I can dø naet'in'.Ork.1 1940:
The Orkney farmer, having damaged his thumb putting on the back door of his cart, said: “Lucks du whit am dune i mae maigriment”.
