Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GLAMP, v., n. Also glaump. [glɑ(:)mp]
I. v. †1. To clutch (at) something, to strain oneself to lay hold of anything beyond one's reach (n.Sc., Ags. 1808 Jam.). Ppl.adj. glampit, sprained (Ags. Ib.).Ags. 1815 G. Beattie John o' Arnha' (1826) 39:
Some glower'd . . . wi' open jaws . . . Syne glampit at the vacant air.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 38:
And aye they glampt, and aye they glaum'd.Mearns 1897 A. Reid Bards of Ags. & Mearns 155:
He glaumpit to claw her braw gowden ba'.
‡2. To grope (gen. in the dark) (Mry.1 1925; Bnff.2 1946).
Also fig.Abd. 1711 J. Watson Choice Coll. iii. 59:
'Twas Aristotle's Wish Who glamped at the Truth.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 38:
An' sae I wakn'd glamping here an' there, I wat ye meith ha found me i' my care.Mearns 1796 J. Burness Thrummy Cap (1887) 278–279:
An' Thrummy, stilping in his sark, Glaumpin' the gate back to his bed.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 65:
He pat's han' in o' the botham o' the kist, an' keepit a glampan in't for a meenit or twa, an' thrummt oot a twenty-poun' note.Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. vii.:
Greenbanks . . . wis graipin' an' glampin' amon' the peats in the neuk for a fir licht.
3. To snap up greedily, to gobble (Cai.7 1954). Gen. with up.Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 73:
“To glamp a thing up”, to eat it greedily as a pig might do.
II. n. 1. A snatch (Ork.1 1945; Cai.7 1954), a grab (often ineffectual), a grasp (Bnff.2 1927); “a sprain, in consequence of reaching too far, or making a hasty exertion” (Ags. 1808 Jam.).Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 191:
Poor Henny at it loot a hasty glamp, An' roov't in twa, as it was weak an' damp.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 65:
Fin he wiz fain' doon the brae, he leet a glamp at a breem-bus, but he misst it.Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 73:
“To make a glamp at a thing,” to snatch it greedily.
2. A groping or search in the dark (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 65; Bnff.2 1946).
3. A large mouthful (Cai. 1954), a gulp.Abd. 1882 G. Macdonald Castle Warlock xxix.:
Stinks fit to scomfish a whaul . . . gar 'im stick his nose 'aneth the watter to get a glamp o' fresh air.
