Sc. and north. dial. Also 9 clanjamphry, -phrey, -fery, -frie, -fray. [Origin and history uncertain: Scott’s clanjamphry suggests a contemptuous reference to a Highland Clan, e.g., Clan Chattan, Clanranald, etc.; and jampher occurs in Sc. dialects, variously used as ‘scoffer, mocker, trifler, idler, shuffler,’ so that clan-jamphery would give a passable sense. But it is more probable that the original idea is ‘trumpery,’ and that the personal use is derived.]
1. Trumpery, rubbish, things of little value.
1825–79. Jamieson, s.v., ‘Did you stop till the roup was done?’ ‘A was sell’s but the clamjamfry.’
2. Spoken ‘rubbish’; nonsensical talk, ‘rot.’
1825–79. in Jamieson from West of Fife.
3. ‘Trumpery’ or worthless people, or those who are so viewed; rabble, mob, canaille; also ‘applied to the purse-proud vulgar’ (Jam.).
1816. Scott, Bl. Dwarf, ix. ‘And what will ye do, if I care ’na to … open the grate to sic a clanjamfrie?’ Ibid. (1828), F. M. Perth, xii. The devil is very powerful with all this clanjamfray.
1821. Galt, Ann. Par. Dalmailing, 292 (Jam.). A gang of play-actors … the first of that clanjamfrey who had ever been in the parish.
1858. A. M‘Kay, Hist. Kilmarnock, 102. Keeping the land-loupers and other clanjamphrie [ed. 1864 clamjamphrie] that attended the fairs from getting the ascendency.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., ix. (1889), 79. I only know the whole clamjamfery of them were there.
Hence Clamjamphried ppl. a. (nonce-wd.) ? treated as clamjamphrie.
1887. Stevenson, Underwoods, II. vii. 100. An’ lea’s us puir, forjaskit men Clamjamfried in the but and ben He ca’s the earth.
