Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1899
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DAMP, n.1 The end of a line or rope (Sh. 1814 Irvine MSS, Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.); "the end of a line where the line has been broken" (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Hence int. dampi, "the end! here is the end!" (Ib.). A fishermen's tabu-word.Sh.(D) 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 120:
The end was called the damp.
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"Damp n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Sep 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/damp_n1>
