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.
LORIMER, n. One who makes the metal parts of a horse's bridle and harness, a worker in small iron-work. Obs. exc. in the title of a London livery company and as a proper name.Sc. 1761 A. J. Warden Burgh Laws Dundee (1872) 496:
Blacksmith, … cutler, ferrier, sadler, lorimer.Sc. 1777 Lumsden and Aitken Hammermen Gsw. (1912) 295:
Daniel McFaddean, Lorimer.Edb. 1856 R. Chambers Trad. Edb. 223:
It contained, about sixty years ago, a person calling himself a Lorimer — an appellative once familiar in Edinburgh, being applied to those who deal in the iron-work used in saddlery.
Comb. lorimer-house, prob. orig. a kind of open shed or smithy used by a lorimer, hence in children's usage an erection of sticks, straw or the like used as a rude shelter to play in.Gsw. 1773 Dmf. Weekly Mag. (27 July) 221:
Friday se'ennight, some children at the coal-work beyond the Gorbals, having erected what they call a Lorimer, or Fair of Glasgow House. — They kindled a fire therein, which catching the combustible roof, unfortunately burned a girl, about eight years old, to death.
