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.
Ramper, -ire, n. Also: -eir, -ier. [e.m.E. rampere (a1548), -ar, -ear, -ier, -ire, etc., OF rampar, var. of rempart Rampert n.]
1. A rampart. b. A containing wall, a dyke, a barrier.(a) 1570 Leslie 207.
Utheris wer occupeit in … rasing trenchis and rampers Ib. 208.
Peaces of gret artaillyerie … wer discharged aganis the rampeir of the toun a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 95. 1646 Mylne Master Masons 141.
Bullwarkis bastiones and ramperis or suchlyk warlyk workis 1679 J. Somerville Mem. I 221.
Strongly walled with double rampers and ditches 1696 Irving Dumbartonsh. App. I 105.
One the rampeir, on gun(b) 16.. Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III 119.
Leith … is now begun to be fortified by foussees, and rampires(c) ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 128.
The cittizens wer raising a rampier of earthe for defenceb. c1590 Fowler II 157/6.
To keip him [a flood] in his naturel course with hight dykes and rampiers
2. fig. A thing regarded as a barrier or protection; a person regarded as a protector.c1590 Fowler I 172/14.
Nather may my treuthe nor traynes availe The rampiers of thy rigour for to skayle 1587-99 Hume 54/72.
The … rampiers of renoune, … Demolist all a1599 Rollock Wks. I 414.
Now quhat is scho doing, bot sitting in hir castell bigging hir rampier, and casting hir fowseis about hir 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. i 16.
Resolu'd … To siege, and sack the rampier of my ressoune 1682 Livingstone Patronus Redux 63.
Gainst galling care, A rampier to the meek you only are
