Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BRIM, BRIME, Brimma, n.1 [brɪm, brəim]
1. “Sound of sea breaking on the shore, especially when land could not be seen, as in a fog” (Sh.(D) 1899 J. Spence Sh. Folk-Lore 119; 1910 A. W. Johnson in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. III. i. 39); “surf, breaking of the waves on the shore, or the sound thereof” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1828)). Comb.: brimtud, brimtod, “the sound of waves dashing on the shore” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1914 Angus Gl.); “latterly the word has been used as a tabu-term by fishermen at sea” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). [Sh. tod, to produce a low, whistling sound, tud, to suck.]
2. “Sea-spray; smoke like haze: ‘A windy brime'; ‘A snawy brime'” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Combs.: (1) brimskud, “the vapoury, smoke-like haze which rises from the shorebretsh” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.); (2) brimstew, brimma-stew, brime-stew, “dense, misty spray rising from a heavy surf breaking on the coast” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). See Stew.
[O.N. brim, surf; Norw. brimtot, the sound of the waves breaking against the rocks (Jak.); O.E. brim, sea, ocean, is poetical. Idg. root is *bhrem, to be in restless movement, hence to make a roaring noise.]
