Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1909-1916
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†GUTTAM, n. Also cuttem. A drop, of ink, spirits, etc. Orig. in school usage. [′gʌtəm, ′kʌt-]e.Rs. 1909 Scotsman (6 April):
In my school days in Easter Ross, we always spoke among each other of "a guttam" of ink.Rs. 1916 T.S.D.C. II.:
In Dingwall used now generally of whisky = a sufficient quantity. John has got his guttam the day.Bnff. 1916 T.S.D.C. II.:
In Fordyce, fifty years ago, a school-boy would say when the ink-bottle was beyond arm's length, "gee's a cuttem."
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"Guttam n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/guttam>
