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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STAMP, v., n.¹ Also stump-. Sc. usages of Eng. stamp, of the foot.

I. v. In combs. and deriv.: 1. stamp-cole, reduced form stankle, a small temporary hay-rick (see 1825 quot.) (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ork., Cai., Inv., sm.Sc. 1971, stankle). See Tramp; 2. stamp-pike, a pick worked by pressure of the foot on a metal tread at the side of the shaft, a tramp-pick; 3. Stamp-spade, a narrow-bladed spade, sim. used as in 2., for cutting peat, a Tusker; 4. stamper, (1) as in Eng., an instrument for stamping or pounding: specif. as used in a flax scutching-mill; an appliance in a jacquard loom to hold the cylinder steady when the selection of threads is made (Ayr. 1951); (2) = 3.1. Dmf. 1825 Jam.:
The hay is first collected into small heaps called coils or coles; then of a number of these combined a larger heap is formed, as much perhaps as would be a cart-load. These are called stamp-coles, and are erected in the field. The name of stamp-cole has most probably originated from the operation of stamping or tramping the hay into a compact state.Dmf. 1869 Trans. Highl. Soc. 293:
The hay, instead of being put up in “stamp coles” in the field, can be stored in the shed at once.Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 350:
Their corn's put up in stampcoles and in thrieves.2. Abd. 1748 Abd. Estate (S.C.) 74:
To shafting 4 stamp pikes and a how.3. Abd. 1951 Buchan Observer (3 July):
Champions on the stamp or tusker spade earned reputedly big pay.4. (1) Abd. 1748 Abd. Estate (S.C.) 143:
To have an other scutching milln by makeing the spur wheel of scutching axeltree long and same spur wheel to move stampers.(2) Abd. 1970 Gailey & Fenton Spade 182–4:
Two types of peat spades were (and are) in use, the ‘breist spade' and the ‘stamp spade'. The latter was worked vertically, and was so-called because it was stamped down with the foot. . . A ‘stumper' or ‘stamp spade'.

II. n. A spit or spadeful of earth turned up in digging.Abd. 1811 George Skene Keith General View of the Agriculture of Aberdeenshire 415:
The first stamp, or spit, is . . . thrown into the open trench.Mry. 1835 Trans. Highl. Soc. 366:
When the first line (of plants) has been inserted, manure well rotted should be applied to the roots. A stamp of earth is then turned on and smoothed.Abd. 1979:
Stamp - still used Abd 1979.