I know it as a Scots word. Certainly if you hear someone using this word it's a safe bet they're Scottish. Often used to refer to a frenetic situation on the football field, e.g. 'There's a right old stramash in the box, and it squirts out to McSporran and the wee man just picks hs spot!'
I know it as a Scots word. Certainly if you hear someone using this word it's a safe bet they're Scottish. Often used to refer to a frenetic situation on the football field, e.g. 'There's a right old stramash in the box, and it squirts out to McSporran and the wee man just picks hs spot!'
The few dictionaries I checked give the origin as "Scot. & Prov. Eng."
I don't think I'd like the word as much if it were pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable. :-)
Is this of Gaelic origin, perchance? I always think of it that way (perhaps because it sounds Scottish) but never bothered to find out.
Edit: Google dictionary says origin unknown. *bummed out*
Disturbance, racket; crash, smashup.