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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Fourm(e, Fowrm(e, n. [ME. (c 1290) and OF. fourme, var. of forme Form n. Cf. Furm n.]

1. Material form or shape. a1400 Leg. S. xi. 232.
Thir are goddis in fowrme of mene 1387 Edinb. Chart. 35.
The ylk men sal mak in ylk chapel … a wyndow with thre lychtys in fourme masonnelyke c1420 Wynt. ii. 78.
In all apport scho prowyt man, Suppos in fourme scho wes woman

2. Form or style of abstract things. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 577.
The pece for to holde sekyrly, Eftre the fourme of sacrament c1420 Wynt. iv. 3.
Fourme of dyte and fayre spekying Ib. v. 4493.
Haldand fowrme off rychtwysnes 1456 Hay II. 145/24.
For justice is the fourme and foundement that God … has sett to governe all his creaturis

b. Of legal proceedings or documents. 1398 Acts I. 211/2.
Thai sal apere at the next iustice aire in to the fowrme comprisit in the said statut 1409 Exch. R. iv. p. ccix.
Thai oblise thaim … in fourme and manere as heir folowis c1420 Wynt. v. 3851.
Sentens gywyn but fowrme off lawe 1443 Highland P. II. 178.
In as fast and sikir fourme [of exchange] as can be made 1498 Montgomery Mem. 52.
It is fullely endit … in manyr and fowrme as eftre folowis

3. A bench without a back. 1576 Prot. Bk. W. Cumming 161.
In the hall tway branderit burdis set with thair fourmis