Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CRAM, v. and adv.
1. v. As in Eng., but note the following Sc. usages: (1) Intr. for refl.: to push, crowd (Bnff.2, Kcb.10 1940). Always followed by prep. in(to).Sc. c.1752 Scotland's Glory (1806) 93:
A crowd then crams into the kirk, just for to see the action.Abd.2 1941:
The crood cam crammin' in ti the pass, makin' a clean choke-a-block.Fif.10 1941:
Gin a' that clamjamphrey's gaun to cram in, ye'll no see me there.Kcb.10 1942:
The folk hae been crammin' in till there's nae room tae dance.
(2) As comb. cram-moo = to crunch.Ork. 1912 J. Spence in Old-Lore Misc. V. II. 67:
An' he juist crammood hid [piece of iron] taegither wi his teeth, an' then rave hid sindry wae his nieves!
2. adv. Tight-packed, full (Bnff.2 1940).Abd. 1904 W. A. G. Farquhar Fyvie Lintie 68:
Now —, frae his sneeshin' mill, His nasal barrels cram may fill.
