A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1500-1512, 1572-1581, 1667
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Dam, Dame, v. Also: dampt. [e.m.E. damme (1553), dam, f. Dam n.1 Cf. Dem v.]
1. intr. To make water. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 186.
He dois as dotit dog that damys on all bussis
2. tr. To confine or hold back with a dam. 1572 Irvine Mun. I. 65.
With fredome … to dame and mak forceis of daming owirthort the said Watter of Irving 1573 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 2.
To dampt and hald in the North Loch to the hieast clouse 1581 Ib. 558.
To mak ane sufficient clowse in the said loch, … and the same to dame in or latt furth swa oft as thai sall think neidfull 1667 Irvine Mun. II. 218.
To dame the watter as occasion … requyres
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"Dam v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/dam_v>
