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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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JAM-TART, n. [Rhyming slang for Hearts.] Usu. in pl., Heart of Midlothian (see hert n., v. I. A. 1. (1)) football team or its supporters. Also in reduced form Jambo. Also attrib. m.Sc. 1990 Stewart Conn in Joy Hendry Chapman 60 41:
... Rant
and rave at every opportunity
about what they cry 'the quality
of life in their city' — ignoring totally
that the Hi-Bees is down the drain, and see
the Jam-tarts, they've went aw squee-gee
but cannae face up tae it.Edb. 1993 Irvine Welsh Trainspotting (1994) 42:
Ah goat yir ticket fir the match the night, Stevie. Intae they Jambo cunts, Renton said to him.Edb. 1994 Gordon Legge I Love Me (Who Do You Love?) 77:
One of the latter had come on the tube from a Jambo saddo who started haranguing Eddie about a dodgy penalty a few seasons back.Sc. 1999 Angus Calder in Moira Burgess and Donny O'Rourke New Writing Scotland 17: Friends and Kangaroos 17:
Weekends the theatres debouch their crowds
in Grindlay Street, in Cambridge Street
Hibees and Jambos raise their slurry chants
in West Port, in Bread StreetEdb. 1999 Edinburgh Evening News 11 Aug 38:
Dennis warned Hibs' fans not to get carried away by the fact Hearts were dumped 4-0 by Rangers on Saturday, and warned of a Jambo backlash.Edb. 2000 Edinburgh Evening News 18 Sep 15:
"... We're concerned, too, that Salmond's a Jambo and we have it on good authority that his probable successor, John Swinney, is another one."Edb. 2003 Scotsman 1 Jan 10:
The Jambos have an extra incentive to pull one over Hibs in the Edinburgh derby tomorrow.ne.Sc. 2003 Aberdeen Evening Express 8 Aug 48:
Aberdeen begin their first full season under boss Steve Paterson with a tough test against the Jambos in Edinburgh tomorrow. Few outwith the Pittodrie camp expect the Dons, eighth last season, to overcome the Jam Tarts, who were third and earned a place in the UEFA Cup.Sc. 2003 Observer 5 Oct 6:
The Jam Tarts should have taken the lead after 12 minutes when Patrick Kisnorbo picked out Dennis Wyness in the box, but he fired just over from nine yards out. Four minutes later, Dundee hit them on the break. Garry Brady took a quick throw that caught the Hearts defence slumbering, ...Edb. 2004 Edinburgh Evening News 18 Jun 45:
A Jambo for more than 50 years, Donald Macaulay was the obvious choice for Gorgie chairman George Foulkes as he looked for a suitable person to head the group which will spend the rest of the year investigating all the stadium options facing the Gorgie outfit, Hearts set to take up residency at nearby Murrayfield in 12 months' time while the alternatives to Tynecastle are explored.Sc. 2004 Scotsman 13 Sep 7:
A foul on the former Hearts man led to the opener with another ex-Jambo, Gary Locke, knocking in the free-kick which David Lilley met with his head to put the men from Ayrshire into a lead which, though slender, also managed to have an unassailable look to it at the same time.Edb. 2004 Daily Record 1 Oct 92-3:
But how does anyone know for sure if a Lithuanian at Hearts will be a positive development? And what price memories as a club like the Jam Tarts undergoes a complete change of identity?