Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1887-1948, 2000
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RAMSCOOTER, v., n. Also ramskooter; ramsqueeter (Abd.4 1931). [rɑm′skutər, Abd. -′skwitər]
I. v. To set about with violence, drub, trounce, drive off in terror (ne.Sc., Per., Slg., w.Lth., Lnk., Kcb. 1967). Nonce deriv. ramscootrify, id.Abd. 1887 Bon-Accord (18 June) 16:
Tho' Teenie shood ramskooter my heed wi' the bakin'-roller fam I came hame i' the mornin'.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables xiii.:
"Ye little hempy, I'll — I'll ramscootrify ye!" and I shook the little dyvour till its teeth chattered in the heid o't.Bnff. 1921 T.S.D.C.:
When Malcolm ramscootered the Danes.Inv. 1948 Football Times (11 Sept.):
When gang warfare broke out the cry of the leader was — "I'll ramskooter the lot."Gsw. 2000 Donny O'Rourke in Alec Finlay Atoms of Delight 129:
Ramscooter
When you're ramscootered, you're on your knees
Completely vanquished by your enemies
II. n. 1. A state of dither or distracted activity.Abd. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 67:
In a ramsqueeter, she flew an' geddert oxterfu's o' the seggs an heddir.Abd.15 c.1930:
It gid a' tull a ramsqueeter.
2. A clumsy fellow (Bnff. 1967).Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.:
Ye muckle ramscooter o' a loon.
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"Ramscooter v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ramscooter>
