Comments on: Clamjamfry

By: john begg

john begg — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 09:59:03 +0000

Yes, it was – ““The Advocate be dammed!” cries he. “It’s the Campbells, man! You’ll have the whole clanjamfry of them on your back; and so will the Advocate too, poor body” From Catriona by RL Stevenson, David Balfour talking to Charles Stewart, Writer (to the signet = Scottish solicitor). If it is correct that it dates from early C19, then RLS has committed a rare anachronism, as Cationa is set in 1751!

By: john begg

john begg — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:36:58 +0000

Also I think I have seen clamjafry in R L Stevenson, but I can’t remember where? Maybe in “Catriona” when David Balfour is talking to the McGregor Lawyer?

By: john begg

john begg — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:32:32 +0000

I use “Clamjafry” from time to time, especially when talking to other Scots, as a slightly derogatory word for a group of people. My grandfather (born in 1880s) also used it and I guess I got it from him.

On a similar tack, what is the correct definition and derivation of “Hooching” as in “the marketplace was fair hooching with folk” (Very crowded with people)? Dictionaries only seem to give “hooch=illicit booze” which is not the same word.

By: Jumphry

Jumphry — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 12:54:14 +0000

“common usage” isn’t what is meant by “very much in use”, which is what the article claims. Common usage would be quite another thing entirely.

By: Phil

Phil — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 10:49:20 +0000

I’d forgotten that Lewis Grassic Gibbon uses it quite often in “Sunset Song” but that is being remedied with my first read through of that classic in some 20 years. Gibbon takes the usage further and applies it to appearances as well as people or situations in general, “a woman with her face all clamjamfried with paint and powder and dirt,” leaves nothing to the reader’s imagination!

By: Erica

Erica — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:06:49 +0000

I saw this word, while looking up things online to help me compose a poem. I recognized it and remembered I had come across the word a very long time ago. I knew what it meant.

I just used it in a poem to hopefully stump a fellow poet who uses many words in his poetry that force me to do Google searches. I hope I’ve finally one-upped him!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:38:33 +0000

I found it in an old Merriam Webster dictionary that I frequently use to look up odd words. It has become one of my favorite words, and I once used it as the name of my website.

By: Victor

Victor — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:22:09 +0000

And here all along I thought it was an occasion where clams are fried in jam… Oh well

By: Marcus Evans

Marcus Evans — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:56:36 +0000

In common usage in the UK?
I don’t think so!