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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Psalm, n. Also: psalme, pshalme; Pasalme; Phalme, phsalme, Salm(e. [ME and e.m.E. psalm(e, OE (p)sealm, ON (p)salmr, OHG salm, salmo, also psalmo, -ma, L. psalmus, f. the Gk., a twitching (of the strings of a harp), the sound of a cithara or harp, a song sung to the harp. Cf. OF salme, saume, psalme, (p)seaume. See also Psalm(e)-Buke n.] A psalm.a. Any devotional composition for voice; an anthem, hymn, canticle, etc. b. spec. One of the psalms from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament.In Scotland ‘referring esp. to the metrical version of the Psalms adopted f. French Protestant usage in the 16th c.’ (SND, s.v. Psalm n.).Once, appar., applied to the Book of Psalms, see sing. (2) below.[
Ipsos contritos et vere penitentes vt asseruerunt manu sua propria absoluit cum psalmo penitentiali 1382–3 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 165.]sing. (1) c1420 Wynt. v 2009.
And the psalme, as I hard telle, Wes In Exitu Israelle 1490 Irland Mir. I 6/14.
And of this … spekis … Dauid … in the secund psalme c1500-c1512 Dunbar xx 15.
The psalme sayis, Cum sancto sanctus eiris 1562-3 Winȝet I 32 marg.
This psalm … quhilk in the Inglis Bibill is the 74 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 68.
Efter … the quenis grace hard ane psalme song [etc.] 1562-92 Wode's Psalter (ed.) 3.
I … wes in purpase to have … wreatin the first vearce of everilk psalme that hes ane tune 1620 Stirling Kirk S. in Livingston Metrial Psalter Pref. 22.
For uptaking of the psalme in the kirk 1622 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 121.
[The precentor was called the] taker up of the psalm 1678 Robertson Cullen Ch. Ann. 56.
Mr. Archibald Mair schoolmaster … said the morning prayers and took up the psalm 1681 Boharm Kirk S. 4 April.
For raysing the psalme upon pasch day(b) a1568 Bann. MS I p. 51 title.
The first pshalme(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiv 14.
So quhene the psalme [Bann. Dr. psalmes] and testament to reid … was nevir … senepl. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1334.
Sayand psalmis as feryt thar-til & vthyre prayere Ib. 1436. c1420 Wynt. v 3584.
Amang the psalmys sayd to be At … ewynsang c1475 Wall. xi 1358.
At clerkis may, quhen thai thair psalmis reid For Crystyn saullis [etc.] c1490 Irland Asl. MS 28/6.
Thow sall saye the vij psalmes of penitence 1496 Misc. Spald. C. V 32.
To singe … psalmis, respondis, autophinis [sic in pr.], ympnis, and ale other houris a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 318 (see Psaltar(e n. 2). 1535 Stewart 22013.
The sevin psalmis … to sing and reid a1538 Abell 39b.
Paip Celestin … ordanit to say preperament psalmis before the mes c1552 Lynd. Mon. 665.
The Propheit Dauid … Compyld the plesand psalmes of the psaltair In his awin propir toung 1567 G. Ball. 197.
Preistis … , sing in to ȝour mother tung Inglis psalmes 1578–9 Perth Kirk S. MS 12 Jan.
Jhone Suentoun M^r of the sangschull … had greatt travaillis in … taking wp of the psalmes [etc.] 1599 St. A. Kirk S. 908. 1600-1610 Melvill 22.
Him he causit the doctor of our scholl teatche the wholl psalmes in miter, with the tones thairof 1621 Stirling Kirk S. 459. 1628 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 364.
James Forrester, schuilmaister, for … lifting up of the psalmes [etc.](2) 1456 Hay I 12/6.
Quhilkis Sanct David apprevis in his buke of psalmes(3) 1564–5 Reg. Privy S. V i 564/1.
Licence … to imprent … the psalmis of David in Scottis metir 1567 G. Ball. 85 heading.

c. pl. A book containing psalms. = Psalm(e)-buke. 1565 Soc. Ant. VII 450.
Thir psalmis and canticles lyand besyde me … thir mony ȝeiris unbund 1567 Dickson & Edmond Ann. Sc. Printing 202.
The psalmes of David 1579 Ib. 303 (see Pros(e n. (3)).
Psalmes of prois, unbund 1606 Misc. Bann. C. II 224.
[264] psalmes, in octauo