Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡SHAM, n. Also shaum. The leg, now gen. in jocular use (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Abd. 1940).Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 53, 117:
An end like this wad be mair pleasin, An' to my wither't shaums mair easin, . . . Or craggy heugh had thrawn a queack's shaum.Abd. 1923 Swatches o' Hamespun 17:
Haud in yer shams an' nae cowp the table.