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.
Ramfors, -force, v. [e.m.E. ramforce (1583 and 1644, thereafter appar. obs.), var. of Ranfors, with altered prefix. Chiefly Sc.] tr. a. To strengthen (a rampart or earthwork); to fortify, barricade or block up (a door or gate). b. lit. and in fig. context: To stop or jam up (a cannon) by filling its muzzle with stones, etc.; to render ineffective. c. fig. To fill up or stuff full.a. 1569–70 Edinb. B. Rec. III 269.
The counsall ordanis the baillies … to caus ramforce the Walter Yait 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 215.
Certane woll and skenis … to ramforce thair trinsches 1582 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 149.
To Thomas Penney for ramforsing of the duir in the stepill with faill, xviij d. 1595 Crim. Trials I ii 362.
They ramforcit the dores of the said scooll 1666 Old Ross-shire II 82.
Ramforceing [pr. rani-] of dooresb. 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 93.
The chefest gun [of the protestants] … is ramforsit be certane places of S. Paull falslie vnderstand 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii 104.
They … slue the watches and unhappily ramforced all the canon c1650 Spalding I 132.
Thair cairt peices, quhilk … wes … ramforsit so with stones, that with gryte pane thay war clengit and maid cleinc. 1581 Sat. P. xliv 141.
His bos bellie, ramforsit with creisch and lie, Vill serue to be a gabion in neid
