Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1820, 1892-1935
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†GRAM, adj., n., v. Also grame, grem, graem, graam.
I. adj. 1. Very eager, keen on getting something, e.g. food (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., graam, 1908 Jak. (1928)); also salacious (Edm.).Sh. 1892 Manson's Sh. Almanac:
"Dat may a' be," says Maansie; "bit I see you a' as graam . . . as I for your pairt whin we come ashore."
2. Delighted, overjoyed.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He was gram ower it.
II. n. Anger, passion; grief. Liter. only. Also in Nhb. dial.Slk. 1820 Hogg Winter Ev. Tales II. 42:
Laithe to lay ane laitless finger on her, I brankyt in myne gram.Sc.(E) 1935 W. Soutar Poems 53:
It was the body that ye brak In yon stark hour o' grame.
III. v. To be in a passion (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., graem), to be embittered or enraged (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), grem); to grumble, complain (Ib.).
[O.Sc. has gram, fierce, c.1475, gram(e), sorrow, distress; malice, from a.1500; O.E. gram, angry, fierce, grama, anger. For the I.Sc. forms cf. also the cogn. Norw. dial. gram, angry, anger, gramma (gremma) seg, to complain, bewail, O.N. gramr, angry, gremja, to anger, provoke.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Gram adj., n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gram_adj_n_v>
