Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SKIME, v., n. Also skyme. [skəim]
I. v. 1. To glance, shine with reflected light, gleam. Ppl.adj. ¶skymed, besprinkled with a gleaming covering.Lnk. 1825 Jam.:
Whar hae ye been, dear dochter mine, For joy skimes frae your ee?Kcb. 1901 R. D. Trotter Gall. Gossip 137:
John sat an drank tea an ett scons, an skime't at Jean, an rooz't her gude looks.Abd. 1910 Abd. Jnl. N. & Q. III. 26:
A bulwark o' mountains, their taps skymed wi' snaw.
2. To catch a glimpse of, to have an indistinct view of.Sh. 1970:
I couldno skime it (though peering hard).
II. n. 1. A glance of the eye, a quick, often sideways look, a flashing or angry look (Kcb. 1970). Also in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1819 Scots Mag. (June) 525:
An' the skime o' her een was the dewy sheen O' the bonnie crystal well.Kcb. 1828 W. Nicholson Poems (1897) 77:
But the glare o' his ee nae bard hath exprest Nor the skimes o' Aiken Drum.Wgt. 1880 G. Fraser Lowland Lore 164:
She took a wee bit skime at me.Kcb. 1901 R. D. Trotter Gall. Gossip 137:
He gied a skime ower by the bed, an winkit at Jean.Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae French 9:
A' her chairms for auld or young were vain; They passed unheedin', or wi' skimes gey slicht.
2. A gleam of light, a flash, a brief transient glimpse or appearance (Sh. 1970). Also in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1818 Scots Mag. (Oct.) 327:
His mantle was the skime o' licht, That glints frae the emerant green.Sc. 1926 H. M'Diarmid Drunk Man 42:
O'ts hidden hert o' beauty they Were but the merest skimes.Uls.2 1933:
I just got a skime round the corner but I'm sure it was him.
