Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JAM, v., n. Sc. usages of Eng. jam, to squeeze, block up:

I. v. 1. Phr. jam(min') fu', cram full. Gen.Sc. Cf. n.Eng. dial. jam cram full, id.Lnk. 1919 G. Rae Clyde & Tweed 60:
An' ilk back-end a sermon drones, wi' fishin jammin' fu'.

2. To put (someone) into a quandary, to cause (someone) to be at a loss. Gen.Sc.; to inconvenience; to corner in an argument (Abd., Ags., Fif., Lnk. 1959); refl. to occupy one's time to the exclusion of all else (Bnff., Abd., Ags., Lth. 1959). Ppl.adj. jammed, preoccupied (with work) (e.Lth. 1919 T.S.D.C.).Rnf. 1850 A. McGilvray Poems 103:
Ye jamm'd them so, They saw no way to cut you short.Lnk. 1877 W. McHutchison Poems 135:
An' whiles she would ye fairly jammed, If it hadna been my heid was crammed.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (11 June):
Ye'll be come aboot your tedders . . . Ir ye been jammed for want o' dem?Bnff. 1923 Banffshire Jnl. (24 July) 2:
The paper gies a' the news, so we dinna need t' jam oorsel's haiken for tales o' fat's deein'.

3. To mend, patch, “by setting a new piece in between two parts of the old” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh., Ork. 1959).Ags. 1793 Tam Thrum Look before ye Loup 18:
You would be nae great dab at jammin' a pair o breeks.Rnf. 1876 D. Gilmour Paisley Weavers 135:
He took a pair o' breeks tae jam tae An'rew Cochran.

II. n. A patch in a torn garment (Sh. 1959).