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.
RAMSH, adj. Also ra(a)mse, rampse (Sh., Ork.) and derivs. ramsie, ramschoch, -sheugh. [rɑmʃ; Sh. rɑms]
1. Of eatables: rank or unpleasant to the palate, coarse (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 182, ramsheugh; Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I. and ne.Sc., Ags., Per., Fif. 1967); of spirits: fiery, raw (Bnff.6 c.1930). Comb. ramse-tasted (Ork. 1967).Ayr. 1897 H. Ochiltree Out of her Shroud i.:
I would gladly woo and win your daughter, but not by force. It would be too much like leading her in a tether-string — a ramsh pleasure, though the clover were e'er so sweet.Sh. 1900 Shetland News (20 Jan.):
Hit [whisky]'s dat raamse, man, hit's shürely ower strong.Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.:
Brose is gey ramsh for a delicate stomach in the mornin'.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 112:
Doo'l fin hit rampse i' da first, bit pit doo hit doon.
2. Brusque, testy (Abd. 1967).Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xvi:
Jinse gave symptoms of breaking into tears and Mrs. Gibb interposed with a, “Hoot, man!, ye're aye sae ramsh wi' fowk.”Abd. 1936 D. Bruce Cheengefu' Wordle 24:
Oh, Alec, foo did ye say that? Ye're a' that ramsh wi' folk, you Ross's, jist up an' speak oot an' niver think fut'll come o't.
3. Rough and coarse-textured, e.g. of yarn (Fif. 1921 T.S.D.C.; Ork. (ramsie), Kcd., Per. 1967), of a grain crop with heavy straw and little grain (Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.).
[Appar. a reduced form of n.Eng. dial. rammisch, acrid, pungent, rank, from Eng. dial. ram, of Scand. orig. Cf. Dan. ram, id. Dan. has also the form ramsk.]
