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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BAM', n.¹ and v. Also balm.

1. n. A joke, a trick.Sc. 1815 Scott Guy M. iii.:
Whose humble efforts at jocularity were chiefly confined to what were then called bites and bams, since denominated hoaxes and quizzes.Sc.(E) 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. of Christ iii. xlv. 156:
Frae siccan bams an' sic tentless men, fen' me, O Lord.Knr. 1925 “H. Haliburton” Horace in Homespun 180:
An' mony a groat — na! that's a bam'! The bawbees biket when they cam'. Abd. 1990 Stanley Robertson Fish-Hooses (1992) 45:
These simple folks were aye the brunt of sully pranks or made the scapegoat ... I never teen pleasure in making a balm oot of the safties or simpletons. Aifter aa ye dinnae ken whit ye are gang tae bring intae the world yersel.

2. v. To play a trick or joke on a person.Sc. 1825 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 80:
Dang it, you're bamming me.Fif. 1715 J. Master of Sinclair Memoirs Insurr. Scot. (Abbotsford Cl. Publication 30) 155:
[Said of the Earl of Mar] And, in end, bams Mr Forrester with the King's comeing when he knew nothing of the matter himself.