Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†WAMPISH, v., n. Also wampas, -es, -uz. [′wɑmpɪʃ]

I. v. 1. (1) intr. To move to and fro, to wave, waggle, flap about (Slk. 1825 Jam.); e.g. in driving off flies with the hand (Uls. 1953 Traynor).Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xlix.:
Put by the siller, and dinna keep the notes wampishing in your hand that gate.Sc. 1895 A. R. MacEwen Life J. Cairns 214:
Oor John wull aye be wampishin' wi' his airms.

(2) tr. To wave, flourish, throw about, brandish (s.Sc. 1825 Jam.).Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man (1972) xiii.:
But yet his gear was o' the goude As it waved and wampished in the wind.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xxxix.:
It's fearsome baith to see and hear her when she wampishes about her arms.Uls. 1993:
I just wampish a duster round the room in a hurry.

2. intr. To wriggle, twist or swerve about, like a fish swimming (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 462). Vbl.n. wampasin, a winding street or lane (Sc. 1911 S.D.D. (source untraced)).Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 6:
Thinking the adders did pursue And that they wampuzd just ahin him.

II. n. The wriggling motion of an adder (Ayr. 1825 Jam., wampes).