Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1815-1925
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WAMPLE, v., n.
I. v. 1. intr. To wriggle, to writhe (Sc. 1825 Jam.; sm.Sc. 1973). Ppl.adj. wamplin.Ayr. 1818 J. Kennedy Poet. Works 49:
Here Clooney wamples like an eel.Ayr. 1833 J. Kennedy G. Chalmers 10:
Girnin' hares an' snickin' wamplin' eels.Dmf. 1873 A. Anderson Song of Labour 37:
He wamples aff his mither's knee to row on the hearth-stane.
2. Of a stream: to wander, to meander, to flow gently (Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. XIII. 42). Also in n.Eng. dial.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 121:
Just below, did wamplin flow, The Minnoch and the Fleet.Ags. 1880 J. E. Watt Poet. Sk. 29:
A burnie came wamplin' doon.
3. tr. To intertwine, to entangle. Also fig.Kcb. 1815 J. Gerrond Works 166:
He's wampled in a tether [by marriage], Just like mysel.Ayr. 1823 J. Meikle Poems 15:
Let reason redd the wampled briers Afore ye tread.
II. n. 1. An undulating motion (Ayr. 1825 Jam.).
2. A tangle.Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. XIII. 42:
Ye've got that yairn in a wample.
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"Wample v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/wample>
