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: 1825-1894, 1962
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RAMSH, v., n. Also ransh, runsh. [rɑmʃ, ‡rɑnʃ]
I. v., tr. and intr. To munch or chew vigorously with much noise, to crunch with the teeth (Bnff., Abd., em.Sc.(a), w.Lth. 1967).Lth., s.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
To ransh or runsh at an apple, a turnip, etc. . . . includes the idea of the sound made by the teeth.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 52:
Some riv'd and ramsh'd at beefy rumps.Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 23:
The bubbly-jock was killed, an' a fat clocken hen pluckit a twa three days afore — a' to be ramshed up fan we got oot forks an' gullies amon' them.Fif. 1875 A. Burgess Poute 49:
It ramshes worms bi the hatfu'.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 81:
That man o' mine wud ramsh an' hamsh an' fling awa' mair than I cud save although I was a millionaire.Fif. 1962:
She's ranshin like a coo.
II. n. A munch, a scrunch, a single act of masticating coarse or rank food, as raw vegetables (Per., Fif. 1825 Jam.).
[Imit. Cf. Hansh, Scranch, crunch. Phs. with some influence from Eng. dial. ranch, to tear, scratch.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Ramsh v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ramsh_v_n>
