A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420-1599
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Blossom, Blossum, n. Also: blosome; blossume, blosum, -wm. [ME. blossom(e, blossum, earlier blosme, blostme, OE. blós(t)ma, blóstm.] A blossom. (Only in poetry.)c1450-2 Howlat 17 (birdis on blossomes bair). a1500 Henr. Fab. 1331 (the blossummis blyith). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 51 (als quhite as blossum vpon spray). 1513 Doug. vi. xi. 59 (fragrant blosummys). 15.. Clariodus ii. 1456 (alse bricht of bewtie as the blossume scheine). a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xxxix. 13 (barran treis will bloswmmes beir).
b. Applied fig. to persons. c1420 Wynt. v. 5094 (W).
He spurnyt oftare than he sped, That sic a blosome brocht to bed a1500 Henr. III. 148/63.
O blosum blithe and bowsumest c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 167.
Haill, blosome breking out of the blud royall 15.. Dunb. App. x. 4.
Fair lufsum lady, … Ȝung brekand blosum
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"Blossom n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/blossom>
