Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1774-1823, 1896, 1958
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IORRAM, n. Also irom; jorram, jurram. A Gaelic rowing-song; sometimes improperly extended to other songs and choruses. See also Eeram, id. Gael. [′ɪrəm]Sc. 1774 T. Pennant Tour 1772 291:
Our boat's crew were islanders, who gave a specimen of marine music, called in the Erse, Jorrams: these songs, when well composed, are intended to regulate the strokes of the oars.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Ballads II. 355:
The Cronach stills the dowie heart, The Jurram stills the bairnie.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian iv.:
The jorram, or melancholy boat-song of the rowers.Sc. 1823 J. Gordon Remarks on Col. Stewart's Sketches 22:
Rowing to their fishing stations, and singing in full chorus the iroms and war songs of their ancestors.Arg. 1896 N. Munro Lost Pibroch 265:
The twelve red-shirts swinging merry at the oars and chanting a Skye iorram.Sc. 1958 K. Wittig Sc. Trad. in Liter. 193:
As kings and chiefs were often buried in the island of Iona, the rhythm of the iorram became that of the cumha or lament.
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"Iorram n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 3 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/iorram>
