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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.

LAMP, v.², n.² Also laump (Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan I. viii.). [lɑmp, lǫmp]

I. v. 1. To limp, to walk in an awkward hobbling manner (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork., Ags., Slg., Fif., Uls. 1960). Hence lampsie, a nickname for a slightly lame person (Per.² 1928).Sc. 1825 T. D. Lauder Lochandhu Intro. iii.:
I cam lampin into the yaird that day, for I'm no athegither sae souple as I was than.Nai. 1828 W. Gordon Poems 30:
And John that got the broken shin, Upon a stick he lampit.Lnk. 1893 T. Stewart Miners 109:
Dinna lamp or gae lame.Ork. 1894 W. R. Mackintosh Peat-fires 183:
Young Stanger professed that he was a little better, and he was able to “lamp” along with his captors to Finstown.

2. To take long, springing or prancing steps, to stride, to step out, to walk smartly and deliberately (Lth. 1808 Jam.; Cld. 1880 Ib.; Per.² 1928; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Ork., Ags., Fif., wm. and s.Sc. 1960). Also fig. Hence lamper, one who walks in this way (Lnk. 1825 Jam.; Per.² 1928).Peb. 1793 R. Brown Carlop Green (1817) 126:
And Gawfer, wi' his cutty-thees, And lang lowse lampand legs.Rnf. a.1813 A. Wilson Poems (1844) 152:
Fowk frae every door came lamping, Maggy curst them ane and a'.Sc. 1820 Scott Monastery xxxiii.:
It was all her father's own fault that let her run lamping about the country.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 78:
His shanks cam' lampin' down the stair, As fast as they could spang.Gsw. 1860 J. Young Poorhouse Lays 99:
Meg's needle lamps alang like stour.Rnf. 1880 J. Nicholson Poems 87:
Lampin' wi' yer lang legs.Abd. 1900 C. Murray Hamewith 43:
The whip-the-cat's aff fae hoose to hoose, Wi' his oxtered lap-buird lampin'.Rxb. 1918 Kelso Chron. (8 Nov.) 3:
Few could lamp ower the heather wi' me whan work was on hand.

II. n. A long, firm stride (wm., s.Sc. 1960).Dmf. 1874 R. Reid Moorland Rhymes 82:
His lassie-like gang, As far frae the lamp o' the muirlan' herd as the mirk is far frae the mune.Lnk. 1875 T. Stewart Doric Rhyme 57:
There's a rustic grace in the fearless lamp.Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 32:
He has the rale herd's lamp.