Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HAMMER, n. Also haamar, hammar (Sh. 1902 E.D.D.), hamar (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). A large mass of stone or rock projecting from the face of a hill (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.); “a terrace-like ledge of rocks in a mountain-side” (Jak.); in pl., a collection of such stones (Ib.); very frequent as a place-name gen. followed by qualifying adj. in compounds, e.g. hammer-mugly, hammer-nick (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Ork. 1884 R. M. Fergusson Rambles 58:
This much visited stone lies at the foot of a picturesque amphitheatre of cliffs, known as the Dwarfie Hamars.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 176:
There was scarcely a spot that was not called by some appropriate name of Norse origin, such beautiful characteristic names as . . . Gulla Hammar (the yellow rocks).
