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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JAMPH, v.¹, n. Also jamf(f), jaumph, jumph-. Cf. Gamf. [dʒɑmf, dʒǫmf]

I. v. 1. tr. and intr. To mock, jeer at, to make game of, to act insincerely (towards) (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 126:
But she but jamphs me, telling me I'm fu'.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 50:
Ye manna tell the nibours, for the chields wad aye jamf me wi't.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 2:
The grit fock jamph an' jeer at ye.Slk. 1820 Hogg Winter Ev. Tales II. 71:
And the bonny May scho jaumphit and jeerit.Ags. 1867 G. W. Donald Poems 177:
She'll jaumph an' jeer the lad that's bare.Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables 29:
Until in the wey a Birkie they met, Wha jamph't, an' quo' he: “A braw sicht indeed!”

Hence jampher, a scoffer, “one who makes sport at the expence of another” (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 61:
Let never jamphers yet be better sairt.Ags. 1873 D. M. Ogilvy Poems 127:
There's a jampher that's fleechin' the dey wi' fair words.

2. To trifle, to waste or put in time while at work (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Mry. 1813 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. 459; Abd.² 1947); “to walk in a slow, idle manner” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 89). Vbl.n. jamphan, the act of idling, or trifling over work, ppl.adj. jamphin, habitually idle, lazy; agent n. jampher, a trifler, an idler (Ib.).Bnff. 1869 W. Knight Auld Yule 135:
For ane wha mends a sark, A thousan' jamph the wark.Abd. a.1880 W. Robbie Yonderton 68:
Oor servans may jamff aboot an' nae dee verra muckle till we come hame again.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 110:
He'll hae to winno' on's ain cannas noo' efter a' this jamphin'.Abd.¹ 1929:
The job wis feenish't bit they jamph't aboot till lowsin' time.

II. n. 1. A jeer, sneer, scoff; a jest, banter.Ags. 1879 J. Guthrie Poems 28:
They'll hae some jaumphs, and lots o' harmless fun.Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables 86:
Back to his hame, gey dowie whiles I wat, An' frae his neibours monie jamphs he gat.

2. (1) Slacking, “trifling over work” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 89); (2) “a habitual idler; one who trifles over work, and yet appears to be busy” (Ib.).