A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
(Rammis,) -ys, -es, v. Also: -ise, -eis; -ish; rameis, -ish.[Appar. by back-formation from Rammist adj.] intr. To act in a frenzied manner; to become frenzied; to rush about in, or as in, a frenzy.Also in the phr. to rammis to dede.(1) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 18311.
Sum kest thare armes on his sepulture And rammysand ran to the tempill dure 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 416.
This quene, rammesand in ire, … thocht bettir [etc.] a1568 Weddirburne Bann. MS 287b/39.
And in lufe to rammeis and to rege a1605 Montg. Flyt. 531 (T).
Bot rameist [they] ran reid-wood 1596 Dalr. II 1/7.
Throuch furious ire he began in a maner to rinn wod and that his authoritie was sa contemnet, to rammise and rin wylde 1650 Stirling Ant. IV 156.
The kow began to ramish and within a short time died(2) 1629 Justiciary Cases I 136.
Scho … maid thame [sc. cattle] baith to ryn woid and rammish to deid. Lykas … [she made a] bairne also to ryn mad and to rammish to deid 1650 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. LI (1975) 56.
And the said Jonet Mairtein did ramish to death within fourtie aucht hours space 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 255.
His wyf … fell in a verrie strange seiknes and rammished to death Ib. 246.
