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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RAMFEEZLE, v. Also ramfeezal; with alternative second element, ramfoozle, ramfoozil;  rampoozle (Watson). [rəm′fi:zəl; Per., Fif. ′-fuzəl; Abd., Fif. ′-puzəl]

1. To disarrange, muddle (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Abd., Kcd., Per., Fif. 1967). Ppl.adj. ramfeezled, -foozled, confused, muddled, stupefied; spent, exhausted, wearied (Sc. 1818 Sawers).Ayr. 1786 Burns 2nd Ep. J. Lapraik iii.:
The tapetless ramfeezl'd hizzie, She's saft at best, and something lazy.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 52:
Speak, man! ye auld ramfeezl'd doddie!e.Lth. 1885 S. Mucklebackit Rural Rhymes 179:
I'm clean gane gyte an' ramfeezled gin the auld cadgie fule be-na owre the lugs in love.Ags. 1901 W. J. Milne Reminisc. 63:
“He'll ken fine what ye mean.” “He'll need,” quo I, “for I'm fair ramfoozled, an' divna ken.”Per.⁴ 1950:
A'm fair ramfeezled. What a ramfeezled wey o' workin'.Gsw. 1994 Alasdair Gray A History Maker xi:
This shows he wanted his story read inside AND outside the Ettrick Forest, and I have warstled to help this by putting among my final notes a glossary of words liable to ramfeezle Sassenachs, North Americans and others with their own variety of English. Dundee 1996 Matthew Fitt Pure Radge 4:
syne hauf-sees owre
ah'll whummle ye
cowp yir harns
ramfoozil an bumbaze
gaschil yir rhetoric
an drehve ye
up the waa

2. To put into a state of disorder, turn topsy-turvy.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr. Duguid 262:
When they found naething to reward their thievery, they wreckit and ramfoozled the quheir, they cowpit the high altar, and brunt the tapestried arras.

†3. Deriv. ramfeezlement, (1) disorder, confusion, the effects of fatigue or exhaustion (Ayr. 1825 Jam.); (2) a babble of angry words, a violent quarrel (Ib.).Edb. 1821 Scots Mag. (April) 351:
A kin' o' nettling ramfeezalment gart a' my heart whiltie-whaltie.