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.
Quotation dates: 1713-1908
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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.
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"Ramp adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ramp_adj>
