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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.

Tem(e, n. Also: team, teem, them(e, theame, thame. [ME and e.m.E. team (c1200), tem (a1250), teme (14th c.), teem (Manning), theam (Trevisa), teame (1523), OE téam.] a. Offspring. Only as Barneteme n. q.v. for examples. b. The right of a lord to jurisdiction in a suit concerning the recovery of goods alleged to be stolen in which a third party would vouch for the plaintiff's claim to the goods. Chiefly, in collocation with toll. See Tol(l n. 2 for examples. c. Given as an alternative to or listed with toll (Tol(l n. 1) appar. referring to a duty of some kind. d. In later use construed as the power of a lord to have servants, their families and goods as his property.b. (1) 14.. Acts I 378/1.]
[Si quis tenet curiam de theme in aliqua querela in illa curia in qua mouetur ad quam theme vocatur querela non debet elongari de illa curia sed ibidem determinari Et omnes theme ibidem compareant 14.. Acts I 23/2.
Gif ony uplandis man challangis a burges of ony thyng he may nocht fecht apon the burges bot thruch lauch of burgh he sall were hym bot gif it be of tresoun or of theme [L. prodicione vel de them; 1814 them] quhar of he sall were hym with batayle(2) c1120 Early Chart. 55 (see Sok n.¹ 1).
Team 1139–41 Regesta I 139.
Teem 1161–4 Regesta I 239.
Tem 1185 Inchaffray Chart. 154 (see Tol(l n. 2 (1)).
Theame 1240 Highland P. II 122 (see Tol(l n. 2).
Them 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 2 (see Sak n.¹ (1)).
Teme 1441 Inchcolm Chart. 59 (see Infangtheif n. (b)).
Teem 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 6b (see Tol(l n. 2 (1)).
Thamec. ?14.. Ship Laws c. 6 (B).
Thus endys syndry chapetrys of tollys themys lawys and customys to be gyfyn thrw syndry hafnys of Scotland 1456 Hay I 238/31.
Pilgrymes … suld nouthir pay toll na teme, aucht na custume, na payage, quhill thai ar on thair voyaged. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Theme.
Theme is power to haue servandes and slaves, quhilk ar called nativi, bondi, villani, and all barronnes infeft with theme, hes the same power: For unto them all their bond-men, their bairnes, gudes, and geare properlie perteinis, swa that they may dispone there-upon at their pleasure