Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1822-1879
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†GAMASHINS, n.pl. Also gamashons, gommawshens; gumashins (Ayr. 1830 Galt Lawrie Todd I. ii.). Sc. forms of Eng. gamashes (since 17th cent. mainly in n. dial.), a kind of leggings or gaiters of worsted or other material (Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr., Gl. 690, gamashons, Ib. 692, gommawshens). Cf. Gramashes.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie I. i.:
His dark blue worsted gamashins, reaching above the knees in winter, not only added to the comfort of his legs, but protected his stockings.Ayr. 1834 Galt Lit. Life II. 217:
And there's the Dominie, wi's black Gamashins o'er his shoone; His hoze are aye outo'er his breeks.Ayr. 1879 J. White Jottings 38:
Old men of our younger days, . . . dressed with their broad blue bonnets and gamashons.
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"Gamashins n. pl.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gamashins>
