Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
STRAM, adj., n.1, v. Also in intensive form strammil in sense II. (Gregor). [strɑm]
I. adj. Rough, rude, noisy (Abd. 1880 Jam.).
II. n. A big, clumsy, lumbering, blundering fellow (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 184, Bnff. 1926).Abd. c.1782 Ellis E.E.P. V. 775:
Gin Shanks hadna been a fushionless stram, he wadna latten Breece skrim 'im.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 56:
Yon gouket stram that ye fuish wi' ye.
III. v. To walk with a clumsy noisy step (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 184). Cf. Eng. dial. straum, to stride.
[II. and III. may be of different origins, both uncertain, III. poss. being a reduced variant of Stramp. For II.? cf. Eng. dial. strammack, strammel, a lean, gaunt, ungainly person or animal. But cf. also Du. stram, blunt, coarse, obtuse, lit. and fig.]
