Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GAMF, v., n., adj. Also gamph, gomf, ga(u)mp, gawmp.
†I. v. 1. To be foolishly merry (Lnk. 1825 Jam., gamf, gamph), to laugh loudly (Rnf. Ib.).Gall. 1901 Trotter Gall. Gossip 436:
At kirns and weddings kintra clowns, . . . Gamping o'er their namby pambies! . . . Calves as weel might rowt in rhyme.
2. “To mock, to mimic” (Ayr. 1825 Jam., ga(u)mp, gawmp).
II. n. 1. A buffoon, a fool, “an empty fellow who makes a great deal of noisy mirth” (Upp. Lnk., Ayr. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1924 North. Whig (23 Jan.), gamf; Ags., Ayr. 1953); “a fool, or one who wishes to seem so” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 234, gomf). Cf. Gumph, n.1, 1.Abd. 1897 G. Macdonald Salted with Fire xxii.:
He may turn't intil a breid-kist, or what he likes, the gomf!
†2. “An idle meddling person” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 218, gamf).
†III. adj. Playful, sportive (Jam.2).Sc. 1740 Ramsay T.T.Misc. IV. 381:
She is sae jimp, sae gamp, sae gay, Sae capernoytie, and sae bonny.
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"Gamf v., n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gamf>
