Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1886-1956
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MADDERAM, n. Also madderim; madram, -rim, mad(d)rum, madrom, maddr'm; madder drim; madderdom, and extended forms maddendrim (Cai. 1903 E.D.D.), madden dream (Abd. 1919 T.S.D.C.), see etym. note. Madness, folly, frantic rage, tantrums; boisterous fun, wild pranks, hilarity (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1888 B. R. Anderson Broken Lights 87; Ork. 1931 J. Leask Peculiar People 135; Sh. 1956 New Shetlander No. 43. 21; I.Sc. 1962). [′mɑd(ə)rəm]Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sk. and Poems 88:
I wis young dan, . . . an' carein' fur naethin' bit madrim an' foally.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (22 Jan.):
Come doon oot o' da ledder an' leave aff dat ringin' a bells on a Sunday night, dü horror o' madderdom.Ork. 1904 W. T. Dennison Sketches 16:
I t'oucht no' bit what he luppid oot o' the skin wi' reed madram.Sh. 1924 T. Manson Peat Comm. III. 21:
Noo, hed it no been fur dy madrim aboot dis piana, we could a maniged weel anof.Sh. 1950 New Shetlander No. 22. 41:
Tirval never whet his plunkies an' madderam.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 94:
There steud Peggy in as proper a pirr as iver I saa her in, cheust dancan wae maderam.
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"Madderam n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/madderam>
