Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Overquhelm(e, v. Also: ovir-, ower-. [ME. (Man ning) and e.m.E. ouerwhelm(e, north. and northeast midl. ME. ouer-, ovyrqwelm (a 1400–50); cf. Over adv. and Quhelm(e v., also Overquhemle v. and Ourquhelm(e v.] tr. To overwhelm.a. To overturn, upset; also fig. b. To engulf, swamp, smother (as if by emptying a container over); also fig. c. To defeat utterly, ruin (a city).a. 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 16 (Ruddim.).
Quhen brym blastis of the northyn art Ouerquhelmyt had Neptunus in his cart 1562-3 Winȝet II. 22/11.
Quhen the weill foundit antiquitie for a cursit noueltie is ouerquhelmitb. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 401 (Ch.).
The cloudis blak ouirquhelmit all the sky 1567 G. Ball. .
Lyke the welterand wallis brym, Thay had ouerquhelmit vs with mycht 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 69.
Rather overquhelmit, then laidin with plentie of benefices c1600 Montg. Suppl. xx. 4.
My hairt … Owerquhelmit lyis with cluddis of cauld dispairc. 1513 Doug. ii. i. 63 (Ruddim.).
To confound and ouerquhelme our ciete 1567 G. Ball. 115.
Thay bad … Put all to sack and it [Jerusalem] ouerquhelm