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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tam(e, adj. Also: taime, taym(e, tem(e, teime. [ME and e.m.E. tame (c1250), tam (Cursor M.), OE tam, ON tamr.]

1. Of birds or animals: Domesticated, tame. Also, once, of meat. Also ellipt. or absol.(1) c1420 Wynt. i 393.
Off byrde and best, bathe wylde and tame, Payr be payr … In tyll that schype he gart herbry c1420 Wynt. iv 2119 (W).
Alkyne tame best … ran … To woddis and to wildernes Leiffand thare avne wontsumnes 14.. Acts I 325/2.
Of ilk tam hors or riddin hors in the forest fundyn 1456 Hay I 58/28.
All the tame bestis … that was wount to duell with men hamely a1500 Henr. Fab. 902 (H).
The tame cat [Bann. wodwys], wyldcat, and the wyld wod swyne 1505 Treas. Acc. III 170.
To ane man to turs ane tame hert fra Invernes to Dernway 1531 Bell. Boece I xli.
The landwart peple puttis certane tame cursouris and meris amang thir wild hors, and be thair commixtioun and frequent cumpanie, makis thaim so tame, that thay may be handillit 1596 Dalr. I 31/24.
In the mountanis of Aargyl, … and sindrie vthiris places, ar fed ky, nocht tame as in vthiris partes bot lyke wylde hartes(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 318.
Wyld hors & tayme 1505 Treas. Acc. III 170.
To ane wif of Hadingtoun brocht xxiiij taym cunnyngis to the king 1552 Reg. Cupar A. II 107.
Payand … ȝeirlie … togidder with aucht tayme geis and fyftene pultre [etc.] 1597 Warrender P. (SHS) II 334.
Remember to send me the twa taime follou deir that ye promesit 1626 Black Bk. Taymouth 318.
Item off vilgeiss, vi; off taime geis, viii 1668 Edinb. B. Rec. X 52.
That the pryces [in the poultry market] … be as followes … the taime goose, 15 s. … the taime duk, 5 s.(c) 1504–5 Stewart Mem. 87.
lx of wild & teme hors & meris spulyeit & tane furtht of the said landis 1516 Fam. Rose 190.
xxx meris, wyld and teme 1575 Elgin Rec. I 151.
Na kynd of bestiall nor foullis wyld nor tem that ar cumand to the mercat 1682 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 37.
Any wyld or tame foullellipt. or absol. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1512.
The lyoun held to hunt … And slew baith tayme and wyld, as he wes wont c1475 Wall. iv 329.
Quhar that he sawe full feill bestis abide, Off wylde and tayme walkand haboundandlye 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4218.
The knicht at euin fra hunting cumming hame, Hunting the wylde in forest with the tame(2) 1528–9 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 3.
Regratouris … quhair thai can be apprehendit … sall be banist this towne and thair wylde meitt and tayme that thai haif escheitt to the officeris

2. Of an animal or person: Docile, compliant, submissive. 1494 Loutfut MS 19a.
The camell … is tame with ilkane and of his nature plyand c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 105/17.
Sum that war ryatous as rammis Ar nou maid tame lyk ony lammis c1590 J. Stewart 229 § 117.
I am no raskall, bot at prencis aeir I do frequent als teime as onie dow