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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 2005 (SND, online supplement).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BAM, n.² [prob. reduced form of bampot.] Contemptuous term for a person, esp. a simpleton, a fool, an idiot.wm.Sc. 1985 William McIlvanney The Big Man (1987) 27:
'Two canny play patience. Ya bam!'Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 9:
bampot or bamstick An idiot, fool, or sometimes a nutcase. This is often shortened to bam, and any eccentric named Thomas risks being dubbed 'Tam the Bam'.Gsw. 1987 Peter Mason C'mon Geeze Yer Patter! 45:
See you, ya bam, ye're claimed. I am speaking to you, you idiot, and I am giving you notice that I intend to be violent towards you.Per. 1990 Betsy Whyte Red Rowans and Wild Honey (1991) 92:
'It's him, the bam, that's in there. Mammy told him that he was not to sleep with his brothers after being away wi' that other bam. I wouldn't allow him to drink out of the dishes either. I gave him his tea in a jeely-jar.Gsw. 1991 John Burrowes Mother Glasgow 142:
' ... Oh, to hell with him, Star,' he said, recovering from the impact of the news. 'We can't spend out lives worrying about that bam. ... 'Gsw. 1992 Ian Pattison More Rab C. Nesbitt Scripts 11:
Ya ungrateful bam! I just saved your poxy life!Edb. 1993 Irvine Welsh Trainspotting (1994) 83:
He kens thum aw through approved school, prison n the casuals' networks, the freemasonaries that bams share.Sc. 29 Jan-4 Feb 1998 Big Issue :
Even more embarrassment awaits when it's revealed that Gaz, just like the crook of Embra, is a Mason. Many players have passed through Ibrox in the last decade. Most take the money and run. But only a bam like Gazza or his pal Five Bellies really feels at home.m.Sc. 1999 Christopher Brookmyre One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night 244:
I was a fuckin' nutcase, an absolute class-A bam.Gsw. 2001 Hugh Collins No Smoke 42:
He rams the nut on him and the crunching sound of his broken nose echoes in his ears like the wailing of a wounded bagpipe, as he begins to fall. That huge frame hits the floor like a sack of potatoes. Skud has the steak knife out, lunging towards Jerry — 'C'monnnn! Ya fuckin bam ye!' Jerry falls backward.