Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1904-2002
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HAM-A-HADDIE, n. Also ham-an-haddie, ham 'n' haddie, hammy-haddie; hen-a-haddie (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.).
1. A confused or unlikely story or situation, gen. used in exclams. and expressions of incredulity, e.g. "Fine ham a haddie (but ye'll no fry it in my pan)!" (m. and s.Sc. 1956); a mix-up, a fuss, pother (Ags., Fif., Ayr., Dmf., Slk. 1956).Also attrib. (Edb. 2000s). Per. 1904 R. Ford Hum. Sc. Stories 102:
It's a fine ham a haddie, wife! There's nane mair anxious to get . . . married . . . than these very same hizzies.Edb. 1931 E. Albert Herrin' Jennie 295–6:
Her eye . . . marked his discomfort. "A fine ham-a-haddie!" said she. "Ye didna want me."Ags. 1946 Forfar Dispatch (7 Feb.):
Tae hear the hammy-haddie Mary Ann held, ye wid hae thocht I'd taimed that cinnamon doon eez craig. m.Lth. 1988:
It wis a ham-an-haddie effort.
2. The traditional Scottish breakfast dish; see 1998 quot.Sc. 1998 Sunday Times 12 Apr :
Ham 'n' haddie is a Scottish breakfast dish of smoked haddock and smoked ham or bacon, with an optional poached egg on top. Traditionally, the fish should be Aberdeenshire finnan haddock, a small whole fish with head removed, bone left in, that is brined then cold-smoked.Sc. 2002 Sunday Times 13 Oct 8:
The Green Inn, Ballater
... breakfast next morning is one good reason to hang around - there is porridge and local honey on the table as well as ham 'n' haddie and smokies.
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"Ham-a-haddie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hamahaddie>
