rammellyadj.
/ˈraml̩i/, U.S. /ˈræm(ə)li/ English regional (chiefly midlands).
Of earth, soil, etc.: infertile; hard and stony; gravelly, rubbly; composed of loosely mixed clay, sand, and gravel. Cf. rammel n.1 3.
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the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > earth or soil > soil qualities > [adjective] > infertile
unbearingc825
geasonOE
unkindc1330
barren1377
unfructuousa1382
poora1387
leanc1420
exile?1440
salt1535
unfruitful?1542
sterile1572
dead1577
unlusty1580
queasy1593
heartless1594
unfertile1596
emacerated1610
sapless1655
unprolific1672
uncivil1676
ungrateful1681
worn1681
teemless1687
unproductive1725
poorish1767
ill-conditioned1796
scanty1797
rammelly1808
starve-acre1891
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > earth or soil > soil qualities > [adjective] > stony
lapidosec1420
rammelly1808
1808 H. Holland Gen. View Agric. Cheshire i. 8 The term rammel, or rammelly soil, is usually applied in this country to a composition of various kinds of clay, white sand, and gravel, intimately mixed with a small proportion of oxide of iron.
1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 157 When turf is turned up and the soil beneath is loose and gravelly, it is said to be ‘rommelly’, or, ‘all of a rommell’.
1882 G. F. Jackson Shropshire Word-bk. (at cited word) It ŏŏnna do in 'ere, Maister, the groun's too rammelly.
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining 199 Rammelly, mixed argillaceous and sandy rocks.
1995 J. M. Sims-Kimbrey Wodds & Doggerybaw: Lincs. Dial. Dict. 239/2 Ya'd think this gardin'd bin in a builder's yard for all the rammelly soil in it.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.1808