A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1609
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Madam(e, n. Also: madem(e. [ME. ma dame (1297), madam(e, OF. ma dame. Cf. Mydame and Mesdames.]
1. A form of respectful or polite address, employed chiefly or only in addressing a lady of rank, also by servants to their mistress.Thus distinguished from Dame, Deme, which, as a form of polite address, is normally used to women of common rank.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii. 3840.
[The Baudrain to Fesonas:] Dam, that I heir, … Madame, ȝe haist ȝow mair than skill ?1438 Ib. 5606. a1500 Henr. Fab. 212.
[The country mouse addresses the burgess mouse:] Madame … ȝe be the mair to blame a1500 Id. Test. Cress. 361.
[The servant calls Cresseid:] Madame, ȝour father biddis ȝow [etc.] c1500 Fyve Bestes 232.
[The cock to the hen.] Madame, Wysest ȝe ar quhen that ȝe hald ȝow still a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow ii. 147,156.
(The author as a child to his great-grandmother) a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 655.
(To the Queen) a1500 King Hart 350. c1500-c1512 Dunb. li. 4, lv. 1, etc.
(Dunbar to the Queen) 1535 Stewart 68, etc. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 892, 955.
(The Squire to the Lady) c1550 Ib. 1010, etc.
(The servants to the Lady) c1552 Id. Mon. 907.
(The Serpent to Eve) c1552 Ib. 4664.
The seilye nun wyll thynk gret schame Without scho callit be Madame c1550 Rolland Court of Venus iv. 510.
(Venus to Vesta) 1553 Balcarres P. 313.
Madam I belief your grace hes hard [etc.] a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xxxiv. 45.
Scho sall … be callit madame, Bot and the laird maid knycht 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 101, 124, etc.
[The Emperor to his Empress:] Lady I se ȝow in diseis [etc.], … Madame be ȝe of gude comfort 1558-66 Knox II. 278, etc.
[Knox to Mary:] Madam it may please your majestie [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II. 4/27, etc.
Madame 1570 Satirical Poems x. 37. 1596 Cal. Sc. P. XII. 238.
(James VI to Elizabeth) 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 8 b.
Thy wife must haue a hoode and be called Madame although thou and she should liue beggerlie(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints l. 658.
Dred nocht, mademe [the Queen], it sall be done c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii. 1237.
[Wallace to the Queen of England:] Madem … rycht welcum mot ȝe be c1475 Ib. v. 1030.
Mademe a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 1206.
Madem
2. Prefixed to the name of a married Frenchwoman.1539 Exchequer Rolls XVII. 251.
Cuidam domicelle domine nostre regine vocate Madame Sowsy, sponse Jacobi Skringeour
