Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1873-1935
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BOTHAM, BOTHOM, BOTHEM, n. and v. I.Sc. and ne.Sc. forms of bottom. Lit. and fig. See also Boddam. [′bɔðəm]
1. n.Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Orcad. Sk. Bk. 4:
He saw he could no' bide i' the botham o' the geo.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 222:
The hill air lats fouk fin' the bothom o' their stamacks.Abd. 1897 G. Macdonald Salted with Fire xxv.:
I'll tak my aith, it's that Isy's at the bothom o' 't!Abd.22 1935
Hence bothemless, adj., without a bottom.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 245:
Comets are nae the bothemless pit.
2. v. To understand thoroughly, to get at the bottom of.Bnff.(D) 1933 M. Symon Deveron Days 8:
Ay! Logic, Algebra — ye sair nott them a' When ye set oot to bothom oor Wag-at-the-wa'.
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"Botham n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/botham>
