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yampy, adj.

Keywords:
Quotations:
Pronunciation: 
U.S. Hear pronunciation/ˈjæmpi/
Frequency (in current use):  Show frequency band information
Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: an element of uncertain origin, -y suffix1.
Etymology: < a first element of uncertain identity (perhaps imitative: see note) + -y suffix1.
With the first element perhaps compare earlier yamph v., and possibly also Scots yamp (adjective) ‘noisy, uproarious, talkative’, recorded in Sc. National Dict. at yamp adj.2 from the late 19th cent.
English regional (chiefly west midlands).

  Mad, crazy; daft, stupid.

1963   H. Orton & W. J. Halliday Surv. Eng. Dial. I. ii. 587   A man who can never do things in the right way is quite..[Westmorland] yampy.
1968   P. Hall India Man ii. 5   A book-daft yampy cripple plotting revolution.
1992   P. Collins Let. to Louise 21   With three plays to rehearse before opening, Jim was understandably driven yampy.
2013   Birmingham Post (Nexis) 24 Oct. 55   Maverick May has a reputation for being as yampy as a box of frogs.

1963—2013(Hide quotations)

 

This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online December 2022).