Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Yoshiyuki]

While I was reading a joke on Reader's Digest web site named "RD.com", I came across the word "tam", the meaning of which I can't find anywhere in my dictionary or the one on the web. Would someone kindly tell me what it is?

The joke is as follows:

ON A PLANE TRIP to Michigan, my mother took her crocheting with her to pass the hours. Thirty minutes after takeoff, she finished the tam she was making for her niece. When the woman seated across the aisle asked if she could buy it, Mom was flattered and said yes. "I have two young granddaughters," the woman added. "Could you possibly make another one before we land?" Mom crocheted furiously, but was only half done when the plane started to circle Detroit. The pilot announced a landing delay, and Mom renewed her efforts, cheered on by passengers around her. Two more delays were announced. Finally Mom finished, and the grandmother held up the two tams while everyone applauded. As things quieted down, a businessman sitting in front of my mother turned around and quietly asked, "Can we land the plane now?"


--Contributed to "Life In These United States"
by Anthony W Stockman

[obelix]

Tam is short for tam-o-shanter which is a Scottish hat often coloured blue with a chequered red and white browband and a red pom-pom on top.
It fits closely around the brow but is large and full above.
It is worn by men of some of the Scottish regiments in the British army and is very popular among those who take part in the sport of curling, especially in Canada.

[advoca]

Here is another joke using the word 'tam' (Which is exactly as Obelix described)

A little boy was crying, and his mother asked him why. "The other boys in school said I have a big head."

"Don't take any notice." replied the mother. "Now, just run to the shop and fetch me 3 kilos of potatoes in your tam,"