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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.

Eme, Eym(e, n. Also: em, emme, eeme, eime, eam(e. [ME. eeme, eme, em, early æm, eam, OE. éam.]

1. An uncle. (In common use to c 1560.)(a) 1375 Barb. vi. 503.
This John of Lorn hatit the kyng For schir John Cwmyn his emys sak
1397 Douglas Chart. 40.
The quylk [castle] … my lord and myn eme … geff to my fadir and my modir
c1420 Wynt. v. 3051.
Dame Elane and hyr emys thre
Ib. vi. 1648.
Till hys eme he wes rycht fals
1443 Reg. Cambuskenneth 126.
The said Clement, with his said emys … consent … hes gevin [etc.]
c1475 Wall. i. 269.
His eme wist weyle that he the squier slew
1483 Acts XII. 32/2.
The duc … has arestit & takin Alexander Hevme & certane of his emys and kynnesmenne
1514 Grant Chart. 59.
I sall avfauldly tak my said emis pairt
1525 Acta Conc. MS. XXXV. 162.
Ane kynde and loving eme desiring the weile of his derest nepho
1555 Peebles B. Rec. 225.
The said William, Mr Thomas Hay his eme, … and thair frendis
1561 St. A. Kirk S. 85.
The Lard of Torrie, Andro Wardlaw, brethyr to the sayd parson, Ihon Wardlaw, James Wardlaw, his emis
1605 Edinb. Test. XL. 15.
As for my eme Johne Mauchane landis … efter the deceis of my eme Johne Mauchane [etc.]
1622-6 Bisset II. 44/32.
He biggit ane kirk in honoure of Sanct Martyine his eme
(b) 14.. Acts I. 380/2.
Namys of thame that may nocht stande in assise. … The fadir nor moder … emme nor awnt [etc.]
1457 Peebles B. Rec. 122.
The qwest fand John Bechat … lachful ar til his em Wat Bechat
1490 Acta Conc. 152/2.
Robert Broise, Sir Alexander Broise, and Louk the Broise, his emmis, and vtheris ther kyn and frendis
(c) Brus x. 305.
Syne he sped him to the were, Till help his eym
Ib. xiii. 697.
[He] syne wes king … Eftir his worthy eyme, Davy
c1475 Wall. i. 233.
He knew the hous his eyme had lugit in
1489 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 546.
Wilȝam Stewart eym of the said Schir Dauid Archibald Stewart
1514 Lennox Mun. 210.
The quhilkis thingis … the saide Johne Lord Lyll has causit his eyme … to renunce
1546 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. I. 139.
Eodem die, is rentalit Robyn Provand … be consent of Robyn Jhonson, his eyme
15.. Clar. i. 852.
Scho buir him ane sonne height Clariodus Efter his eime
1591 Waus Corr. II. 478.
The croft that my eime Michell hes will peye fourtie lbs and mair
(d) 15.. Clar. ii. 1119.
He was seimlie of corpis and statur; Lyk to his eame
Ib. v. 2747.
The depairting pitiouse was … Betwix him and his eame
a1578 Pitsc. I. 119/2.
The said James Hamiltoun being aduerteisit be his eame … of the kingis guid mynd and favour toward him
1600-1610 Melvill 42.
He was weill acquented with my eam
1612 Edinb. Test. XLVII. 8.
I leiff … to James Murray my puir eame … fyve hundretht merkis

b. Emis son, a male cousin, the son of an uncle. 1375 Barb. ix. 728.
Schir Alexander, that was His emys son
14.. Acts I. 380/2.
Emys sone na awntis sone, sister sone na bruther sone
1533 Boece ii. viii. 72 b.
The nobillis … commandit Rewtha (emys son to king Rewther) … resaue the crovne
Ib. xi. x. 427.
Syne … followit slauchter amang … nevois, emys, emys sonnys [etc.]
1555 Prot. Bk. W. Corbet 21.
Williem Mowe, eymys son to Jhon of Mow

2. Used in addressing or designating an uncle or near kinsman.The precise relationship is not always clear, and the name was in later use apparently employed in a very general sense. See also Ame in Vol. I. 804/1.(a) 1416 Red Bk. Menteith I. 284.
Most der & best belufit eme
?1438 Alex. ii. 545.
Betys said, ‘Eme, I heir ȝour saw’
Ib. 1555.
‘Fair eme’, said Gaudefere
1467 Reg. Panmure II. 242.
To my hertly lufit eme
1479 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. iii. 17.
For the fauour and hertly lufe that I haue to my derrest eme, Walter Ker
1583 Waus Corr. I. 275.
Maist speciall eme, I commend me hartlie to you
1586 Ib. II. 353.
To the rycht honorable and his speciall eme, Sir Patrick Waus
1601 Grant Chart. 197.
To be bound … to our speciall guid freind and eme, … in maner subsequent
(b) c 1525 Wemyss Corr. 67.
Rycht honorabil schir and derrest em
1580 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. VI. App. 697/1.
[Lord Ruthven] to his weilbelowitt em, the Laird of Weym
c 1584 Maxwell Mem. II. 154.
Em, I cummeind me to ȝow
(c) 1509–10 Melville Chart. 56.
I … bindis and oblisis me … to … my trast eyme … that [etc.]
1570 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.) 29 June.
Rycht wyrschipfull schir and best belouet eyme
1596 Waus Corr. 529.
To the rycht honorabill and his spesyll eyme the lard of Barnbaroch
(d) 1598 Lennox Mun. 356.
Best belouit eame
1625 Fam. Innes 212.
To my … loving eame the goodman off Cottis
1631 Breadalbane P. (Reg. H.) No. 468.
To the rycht honorabill and hir loweing eam Schir Collein Campbell off Glenvrquhye

b. Used in the subscribing of letters. c 1525 Wemyss Corr. 67.
Writyn … the xxviij da of September, be your ald em at power
1580 Rep. Sir Rob. Menzies MSS. 697.
Your loving and assured em
1593 Maxwell Mem. II. 170.
Ȝour loving eame

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"Eme n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/eme_n>

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