Revised 2021
† zimmenoun
Factsheet
What does the noun zimme mean?
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zimme. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
This word is now obsolete. It is last recorded around the 1860s.
Where does the noun zimme come from?
Earliest known use
1840s
The earliest known use of the noun zimme is in the 1840s.
OED's earliest evidence for zimme is from 1848, in the writing of Edward Bulwer-Lytton, writer and politician.
zimme is a variant or alteration of another lexical item.
Etymons: English ȝimme, gem n.1
Nearby entries
- Zil lane, n.1985–
- zilla parishad, n.1957–
- zillion, n. & adj.1920–
- zillionaire, n.1926–
- zillionth, n. & adj.1940–
- zimb, n.1790–
- Zimba, n.1625–
- Zimbabwe, n.1891–
- Zimbabwean, adj. & n.1961–
- zimbel, n.1888–
- zimme, n.1848–63
- Zimmer, n.1951–
- zina, n.1817–
- zinc, n.1651–
- zinc, v.1843–
- zinc-air, adj.1970–
- Zincala, n.1844–91
- Zincalo, n.1841–
- zinc-alum, n.1851–
- zinc-amide, n.1859–
- zincate, n.1872–
Etymology
Meaning & use
Obsolete. pseudo-archaic. rare.
- 1848–63A jewel, a gem.
- 1848
Taking from his own neck a collar of zimmes..of great price.
E. Bulwer-Lytton, Harold vol. I. ii. iii. 135 - 1848
His diadem, with the three zimmes shaped into a triple trefoil.
E. Bulwer-Lytton, Harold vol. I. iii. ii. 147 - 1863
338 A fay-born, grotesque isle..Peeps like king-jewel in a carcanet, Embossed with zimmes and shells of quaint design.
W. H. A. in J. A. Chapman, Hist. Edgefield County (1897) 338
- gemOld English–A precious stone of any kind, esp. when cut and polished for ornament; a jewel.
- gemstoneOld English–1290In Old English and Middle English = gem, n.¹ 1. Also figurative.
- stoneOld English–A precious stone: see precious, adj. A.2 spec. in South African usage: a diamond.
- perrya1300–1440A precious stone, a jewel; a pearl. Also figurative.
- precious stonec1300–A stone of a kind prized for its beauty, hardness, or rarity and used in ornamentation or jewellery; a gemstone, a jewel.
- jewela1400–A precious stone, esp. when cut and polished; a gem. Also: a precious or semi-precious stone mounted to be worn as an ornament or item of…
- regalc1426–1631A type of precious stone. Frequently figurative or in figurative contexts. Obsolete.
- precious pierc1450A stone. franche pier n. Obsolete a block of building stone. precious pier n. Obsolete a precious stone.
- margaritea1500–1628Any precious or semi-precious stone. Obsolete.
- lapidary1509–1609collective. Precious stones in general; jewellery. Obsolete.
- zimme1848–63A jewel, a gem.
- hardstone1853–spec. A semi-precious stone of a hard consistency used for small-scale carving or decorative work (cf. pietra dura, n.); (also) an object made of…
- shiner1884–A diamond or other jewel. Usually plural. slang.