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.
OOM, v. To appear hazily through mist or darkness, gen. with up (Sh. 1964). Most freq. in vbl. n. oomin, oomund, umond (Jak.):
1. An indistinct appearance or image of anything, e.g. the loom of land through a haze (Sh. 1964).Sh. 1892 Manson's Sh. Almanac:
I saa da oomunds o sometin i da ask bewast wis.
2. In fisherman's lang.: a slight feeling or sensation, as of fish nibbling at the bait (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).Sh. 1903 E.D.D.:
A fisherman while holding his hand-line says that he had “the oomund o' a fish,” i.e. by certain signs he concludes that there is a fish at his bait, though he has not got a bite.
3. In gen.: an inkling, suspicion, notion, foreboding.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 98:
For t'o' sheu hed nee tryst that nicht, Alinerly wi' ony wicht, Sheu hed a peerie oomin' o'd.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 106:
No a star tae be seen ava, an' a kind o' oomin' i' the wind.
