We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SLAMP, adj. [slɑmp]

1. Slim, lithe, flexible, pliable, supple, freq. of persons or animals (Rs., Inv., Mry., Per. 1970). Deriv. slampen, v., to make supple, loosen or limber up.Mry. 1814 Weber and Jamieson N. Antiq. 405:
The elf-bull is . . . long, round, and slamp in the body like a wild animal.
Crm. 1869 H. Miller Tales 225:
Ane o' the slampest women in a' the north o' Scotland.
Abd. 1900 Wkly. Free Press (15 Sept.):
My back's nae sae slamp as it wis.
Inv. 1939 in Schoolboy's Essay:
They begin with physical exercises to slampen the body.
Per.4 1950:
It'll no tire a slamp young lad like you.

2. “Plump, taut” (Inv. 1904 E.D.D.) , well-proportioned.Bnff. c.1920:
A fine slamp pig.

[Also in n.Eng. dial. in the sense of loose, slack, unsteady. Poss. a conflation of limp and Slank.]

24414

snd