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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FRAMPLE, v., n. Also frammle.

I. v. To rumple, put in disorder, dishevel (Ayr. 1825 Jam.). Ppl.adj. frammled, confused, tangled. Hence frampler, a rowdy, quarrelsome person.Sc. 1820 Scott Monastery xxvii.:
A rude low-born frampler and wrangler.

II. n. A confused mass, a tangle (Ayr. 1880 Jam., 1900 E.D.D.), as of clothes or yarn (Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 691). Also adj. and adv. in comb. frimple-frample, in a confused, promiscuous or tangled manner (Sc. 1887 Jam.).em.Sc.(a) 1991 Kate Armstrong in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 110:
Thon frimple-frample watter rowin
frae Kenmore tae Dundee is cried the River Tay.

[Of doubtful origin. Phs. a conflation of Frumple and Fankle, Scott's frampler being influenced by obs. or dial. Eng. frampold, of a horse, fiery, mettlesome.]

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