Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1773-1824, 1899-1972
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WHAM, n.1 Also whaam, whaum, ¶whamp, †quham (Sc. 1808 Jam.); hwam(m) (Sh.). [ʍɑm]
1. A dale or valley, a broad hollow among hills through which a stream runs (Peb., s.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), a little glen (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1974), found in place-names in the hill-regions of s.Scot.; sometimes applied to the (steep) sides of such a hollow, a slope, bank; "a crook, a bend" (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 218).Ags. 1773 Caled. Mercury (8 Sept.):
The Growth of Young Planting, growing on that Brae called the Sandy Wham . . . on the North Esk.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 197:
They hunt the fox Out through the whams.s.Sc. 1824 Farmer's Mag. (Aug.) 323:
The natural whaams, which indent the long-continued glens on every side, are now stripped of this dense covering [heather], which screened man and beast from frosts and storms.Kcb. a.1900 Gallovidian No. 59. 109:
Ilka lan' will its ain needfu's hae Growin' but help on ilka whaum and brae.Sh. 1972 New Shetlander No. 101. 33:
Roond mirk haamers, ower boanni hoolins, nae slakki ir weet whamp hippit.
2. A hollow piece of ground in a field, etc., a depression (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1952; Sh. 1974), freq. of a marshy nature (Lth. 1825 Jam.; Lnk. 1974).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De hwamm o' a corn-rig.Fif. 1940:
There used to be in St Andrews an old public-house, standing in a slight hollow, called The Whaums.m.Lth. 1953:
When out on the Pentlands the other day with a shepherd who has been at work there for over 50 years, he called a slight moist hollow between two ridges a 'wham'.
3. transf. The hollow of the human hand or foot (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), hwamm, 1914 Angus Gl., hwamp, Sh. 1974).
[Also freq. in n.Eng. place-names. O.N. hvammr, a short valley or depression surrounded by high ground, a grassy slope or hollow, Norw. dial. kvam, a nook, recess, hollow surrounded by high banks, cogn. with O.E. hwamm, a corner, angle. O.Sc. has quhawm, = 1., 1594.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Wham n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/wham_n1>
