Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (UK Und., also glimmer) to burn on the hand, to brand.

1651		T. Randolph Hey for Honesty III i: By these good stampers, upper and nether duds; I’ll nip from Ruffmans of the Harmanbeck, Though glimmer’d in the sambles, I cly the chates.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: As the cull was Glimm’d, he gangs to the Nubb, c. if the Fellow has been Burnt in the Hand, he’ll be Hang’d now.
1708		J. Hall Memoirs (1714) 22: But Profligate Women (having not this advantage) are Glimm’d for that Villany.
1718		C. Hitchin Regulator 20: Glim’d, alias to be burnt in the Hand.
1753		J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 42: I am glim’d in the Fam; I am burnt in the Hand.
1768		(con. 1710–25) Tyburn Chronicle II in Groom (1999) xxix: To be Glimm’d To be Burn’t in the Hand.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.

2. (also glimb) to see, to catch sight of.

1893		J. Hawthorne Confessions of Convict 19: He had sojourned for four years for ‘glimming at bank-business,’ as the offence is designated by crookology and by municipal-bacteria-fly-cops.
1913		H.G. Van Campen ‘Life on Broadway’ in McClure’s Mag. Mar. 38/2: Say, just glim that old coat with the whiskers by the news-stand! He's been a-starin' at me for a hour.
1921		P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 189: I was afeered them shacks had glimbed me.
1922		Davenport Democrat and Leader (IA) 28 May 32/2–3: I glimmed Percy foxin’ with his new tomato.
1934		T. Minehan Boy and Girl Tramps of America (1976) 27: I can hit the stem [...] for a dime anytime anywhere if the cops ain’t glimming.
1946		Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 198: Walking down the street, glimming the cute kittens trillying along.
1952		N.Y. Herald Trib. 21 Sept. IV 1/2: When you glim the over-all picture, you must realize there are certain rock-bottom slants which have to be considered before the final wrap-up.
1969		‘Iceberg Slim’ Pimp 48: Just to ‘glim’ him and you know he’s rough.

3. (US) to know, to realize.

1901		Truth (Brisbane) 24 Mar. 2/3: When things like this are open done, / Oh Lord how will we glim / When our great Washing Day is called.
1959		Murtagh & Harris Who Live In Shadow (1960) 14: Cat, do you glim what happened to George?

4. (Aus. und.) to make a sign with the eyes, to ‘tip the wink’.

1904

Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 14 Dec. 1/2: ‘Big Jack glimmed me then, so I broke him [i.e. a victim in a crooked card game]’.

5. (UK Und.) to beg.

1916		T. Burke Limehouse Nights 234: He had ‘raked’ and ‘glimmed’.
1977		D. Powis Signs of Crime 186: Glimming Begging.

6. (US Und.) to illuminate, to light.

1914		Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal Sl.
1928		J. Callahan Man’s Grim Justice 80: We glimmed up (flashed out light around).