Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
RAMP, adj.
1. Wild, bold, wanton, unrestrained, “rompish” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 403); full of rude health and spirits (Uls.2 1929). Superl. rampest. Also adv.Sc. 1713 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) II. 186:
One or two of them prayed, whereas, before they wer very ramp.Mry. 1757 Session Papers, Petition R. Allan (8 Feb.) 8:
He is proved to be a loose, ramp young Man.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 32:
But the wild goats . . . They are so ramp.Sc. 1803 Scott Minstrelsy III. 208:
Ride out, ride out, ye ramp rider.Dmf. 1820 J. Johnstone Poems (1857) 139:
This while ye hae been wond'rous douse, And scald at me sae ramp and crouse.Sc. 1826 H. Duncan W. Douglas II. vi.:
There fa's ane o' the rampest youths I hae seen.m.Sc. 1842 A. Rodger Stray Leaves 19:
Your lammies young he'll carry in his oxter, But tightly creesh ilk ramp unruly ram.
2. Coarse and rank in growth.Ayr. 1841 J. Paton Songs 32:
A carrot grew sae ramp and strong.
3. Having a strong coarse flavour (Uls.2 1929) or smell, rank (Dmf. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl., Uls.2 1929).Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 403:
A ramp smell, a strong smell, the smell of a he-goat.Sc. 1887 Jam. s.v. Let:
It was a barbarous, cruel method of reducing the ramp flavour of the flesh of animals.Uls.
a.1908
Traynor (1953):
Goat's milk is ramp. Goat's flesh is ramper than mutton.
