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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Chamber, Chawmbyr(e, n. Also: chambre, -byr, -bure. [ME. chamber (-ir, -yr), chambre, early chaumber, -bre (a 1225), OF. chambre, AF. chaumbre. Cf. Chamer and Chawmer.]

1. A chamber.The later examples are due to English influence.(a) 1375 Barb. ii. 7 (E).
He wald in his chambre be A weill gret quhile in priuate Ib. 57.
He, sen ȝhystirday, Duelt in his chambyr ythanly Ib. v. 287.
In a chambre priuely c1400 Troy-bk. i. 340.
Thane enterit thai in chambris wight c1420 Wynt. iii. 52.
His famyle thare … That was the chambure than wytht out 1456 Hay II. 112/21.
Than wald men purvay thame … of calde chamberis and single clething 1596 Dalr. I. 125/26.
We haue certane offices … named … fra comptes, fra lettiris or secreits, fra chambre, clathis, or capis 1653 Hope Diary 157.
I went fumouslie benne to the chambre(b) c1420 Wynt. ii. 45.
Semyramys, his wyff, … In tyll hyr chawmbyr than syttand Ib. iv. 2616; etc.
That chawmbyre syne he gert … halowyd be

2. Attrib. with bed, box, boy, boord, cape, child, dure, goun, play.Compare the similar attrib. uses of Chalmer n. 1668 Edinb. Test. LXXIII. 155 b.
Ane table, thrie chamber beds, fyve chyres — 1664 Ib. LXXI. 376 b.
Ane old chamber box covered with lethir 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII. 355.
A chamber box with a pan in it — c1420 Wynt. viii. 6926.
Wyth hym off Inglis broucht he nane, Wyth-owt a chambyre-boy allane — 1630 Bamff Chart. 223.
Twa grein boord claths, ane for the hall boord and the uther for the chamber boord — 1680 Breadalbane P. (Reg. H.) Tours 2 b.
A chamber-cape of black velvet — a1578 Pitsc. I. 186/24; Ib. 187/7.
The Duik … gaif his chamberchyld command that he sould drink no wyne that night 1588 Cath. Tr. 180.
S. Peter chambrechyld to Diocletiane mart. — c1420 Wynt. iii. 58.
Sone a key thai gat And opynyt the chambure dowre witht that Ib. viii. 1076.
He made hym … Kepare off hys chawmbyre dure — 1607 Edinb. Test. XLII. 364.
Ane chamber goun of tanny claytht — c1420 Wynt. ii. 67.
Off chawmbyr play scho was nevyre sade Ib. 1356.
The bul … on hyr gat in chambure play A barn