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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DIM, Dimm, n., adj., v. Also in Eng. dial.

1. n. Dusk; twilight; the summer night between sunset and dawn, esp. the short midsummer night; also used fig. for a time of anxious waiting, a long time, esp. when a person has been absent during the day and returns at nightfall (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), dimm; Sh.¹⁰ 1949); also intensive dimmer.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 24:
Fae da rivin' o' da dim, Till da sun is in da water.Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 14:
An da flaachterin laverik is settin da dim Wi a sang as sweet as an angel's hymn.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
Du's been dee a dim aboot it.Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 19, 26:
He'll be a dimmer afore I darken dye doorstep ageng!

Phrs. and Combs.: (1) de dabb o' (de) dim(m), the darkest part of a midsummer night, summer midnight (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); 1949 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 130); (2) de head o' (de) dimm, = (1) (Sh. 1825 Jam.²; 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1908 Jak. (1928)); (3) da hert o' da dim, id.; (4) de korr o' dimm, the quietest part (dead) of a midsummer night (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); (5) de (da) swa(a)r o' de (da) dim(m), = (1) (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl.); (6) dimmriv, dawn in summer (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); 1949 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 131); see Riv; (7) dim(m)set, nightfall (in summer) (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), dimm-). Cf. day-set, id., s.v. Day, n., 4.(3) Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 23:
What shö could a seen apon him [photograph] apo da hert o' da dim I sall lave you a' ta consuder.(7) Sh. 1771 Kirk Sess. Rec. Walls and Sandness (1 June):
Thomas Frazer Senr. in Seater declares that the said sow wt 2 Gryses was Bool'd in Turdail about Dimset and found nixt morning . . . lying in the same place.Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 248:
Ae night we wir harrowin' till dimset.

2. adj. Dark (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.).

3. v. To grow dusk.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He's dimmin, the darkness is falling.