Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
VERMIN, n. Sc. usage: a large quantity or number, a swarm, crowd, multitude, with pejorative implications (Cai., Bnff., Ags. 1973).Sc. 1745 Origins Forty-Five (S.H.S.) 160:
A countryman told them that the Enzie was all in a ‘Vermine of Red Quites.'Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 90:
The blint'rin' stars were a' sae wee, And then there's sic a vermin o' them.Bnff. 1921 T.S.D.C.:
I saw a vermil [sic] o' them.
