stramash

Compare Scots stramash. Possibly related to Hindi तमाशा (tamāśā) or Italian stramazzone, although the OED rules out the latter connection (to Italian) and suggests a relationship to English smash.

• IPA^(key): /stɹəˈmæʃ/
• Rhymes: -æʃ

stramash (plural stramashes)

1. (Scotland, informal) A tumult or disturbance.
   • 1821, John Galt, Annals of the Parish; or, the Chronicles of Dalmailing; during the ministry of the Rev. M. Balwhidder. ">…] , page 124:

     This stramash was the first time that I had interposed in the family concerns of my people, for it was against my nature to make or meddle with private actions, saving only such as, in course of nature, came before the Session 

   • 1840, Richard Barham, The Ingoldsby Legends:

     Then more calling, and bawling,
     And squalling, and falling,
     Oh! what a fearful stramash they are all in!

   • 1861, H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, section XXXVI:

     Last year, I had a noble stramash on Folly Bridge. That is the last fighting I have seen.

   • 1896 Marsh 28, Spectator, 444:

     The Muscular Christians rebelled at these ideas with a stir and stramash audible to all men.

stramash (third-person singular simple present stramashes, present participle stramashing, simple past and past participle stramashed)

1. (Yorkshire, dialect) To make a noise, to cause an uproar, to cause a disturbance
2. (Scotland, dialect) To strike, beat, or bang; to break; to destroy.

• “stramash”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

• Hamstras, Smarthas

Uncertain. See stramash for theories.

• IPA^(key): /strəˈmaʃ/

stramash (plural stramashes)

1. uproar, din
2. turmoil; affray; a fight