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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SKURM, n. Also scurm, skorm (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). [skʊrm]

1. A hard shell, a hard outer covering; specif. an egg-shell (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 199, 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1970). Comb. egg-skurm, an egg-shell (I.Sc. 1970). Deriv. skurmack, -ik, an egg (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.). Ppl.adj. skurmed, having a shell.Sh. 1876 J. M. Saxby Daala-Mist 177:
The swell will aften . . . toss a boat ta bits upo' the rocks as if she were an egg scurm.Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 9:
A trowie buckie's marlet skurm.Sh. 1901 Shetland News (10 Aug.):
Shu took da eggs . . . a broon skurm'd ane.Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat Comm. 188:
Du's no ta brak dee egg wi da spune an tak aff da skurm wi dee fingers.Sh. 1958 New Shetlander No. 46. 9:
Wir neeps are shilled a bit oot a every ane, and some are just scurms.

2. Any thin hard crust, e.g. a cheese rind, a thin oatcake dried up in baking (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 199; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc. 1970). Deriv. skurmy, hard-skinned, dried up, of baking (Marw.; I.Sc. 1970).