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.
Quotation dates: 1782-1824
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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.]
