A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Hure-, Hurdom(e, n. Also: huir-, hwir-, huyr-, hour-, and -dum(e, -dwme. [ME. horedame (14th c.), hordom (c 1175), ON. hórdóm-r.] Whoredom, harlotry. Also pl.(a) 1533 Boece x. xii. 375 b.
The ȝoung wantoun men … plennyst the camp with bordalis, tavernis, and hurdome 1535 Stewart 51635.
He … of hurdome ay makand vant and ruse 1582 Declar. Causis 7.
Quhair hurdome … was mair frequent nor princely exercises 1582 Waus Corr. 257.
I haff borne sa lang with his smaikre and hurdom wnpunisit 1605 Dundonald Par. Rec. 71.
For hir … malicious sclandering of Geilis McGeakhein baith of hurdume and thift 1607 Ib. 134.
Marioun Smelie … to be procedit against … for hir hurdome with Mairtein Cvbeisoun1615 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 46 (24 Jan.).
Quham with scho hes committit hurdome (b) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4643.
For huredome, nor idolatrye, For incest, nor adulterye 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2464.
Micht it not serue, my body, at ȝour will, Bot ȝe wald pas ȝour auld huredome vntill? 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 86.
The iniquitie of wemen taverneris … hes bene ane greit occasioun of huredome within this burgh 1585 Edinb. Test. XIV. 246.
Gif scho kepis hir bodie frome huredome quhill God send hir ane husband 1599 St. A. Kirk S. 887.
Finding the syn of fornicatioun and huredum grytlie to incres in this citie c1650 Spalding II. 102.
Thay [servant women] … were cruellie handlit for there huredome(c)a1538 Abell 50 b.
Efter the sowper thai pas to hwirdwme & harlatre1551 Hamilton Cat. 88, 140.
Huirdom1559 St. A. Kirk S. 24.
Sche confessis that sche hais borne ane bayrne in huyrdome to Williame Cowpar 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. ii.
[They] vill nocht mary … bot lyis and continewis in manifest fornicatioun and huirdom 1562-3 Winȝet I. 128/7.
The renunceing of … plesouris of the body, nocht only fra vnlesum huirdum [etc.] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2957 (Ch.).
Thair publick huirdomes and thair harlotries(d) c1650 Spalding I. 61.
Defloiring virgynes and menis wyves, and begetting of barnes in hourdome
