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.
Grome, n. Also: grom; groym(e; groum, growme, groome. [ME. grom, grome (a 1225), of uncertain etymology. See also Grume n.]
1. A man, a male person, in various contextual applications; sometimes contemptuously = ‘fellow’.Common in alliterative verse.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii. 479.
For vthir passage nane thare was, Bot ane bait and ane schip-grome a1500 Rauf C. 785.
Amang the galȝart gromis I am bot ane gest a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 148.
Than right gudly that grome ansuerit agane Ib. 1144.
Gromys of that garisoun maid gamyn and gle a1500 Doug. K. Hart 184.
Full glaid thai glyde as gromes vnagaist c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 78.
Quhen I gottin had ane grome ganest of vther Ib. 392.
Quhen I that grome geldit had of gudis and of nature 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 77.
The silly scheip and thar litil hyrd gromys ? 1570 Sat. P. xi. 56.
Ungraitfull grome, sic recompence Was not condigne to thyne offence(b) c1475 Wall. vi. 728.
And mony groyme thai maid full sar agast 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 31.
The gallyart groym grunschis at grammys hym grevis(c) a1500 Henr. Youth & Age 21 (B).
Na growme on ground my gairdone may degraid a1568 Scott ii. 131.
Now is the growme that wes sa grym Rycht glaid to leif in lie 1591-2 Rob Stene 4.
A glorius growme, Slamb over with faird & fyne perfwme a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xli. 54.
Syn groomis that gay is, On blonkis that brayis [etc.]
2. A man-servant, attendant; a servant in charge of horses, a groom.1503 Treas. Acc. II. 336.
Item, to tua gromes, Inglismen, in thre Quenis wardrob [etc.] 1505 Ib. III. 119.
Thomas Hally, grome portair to the Quene Ib. 151.
Ane fedir bed and ane bowstir to the gromes in the Quenis chamir 1538 Ib. VII. 119.
Item, deliverit to alevin gromys of the Kingis stabill [etc.]
