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: 1420-1614
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Murmur, Murmour, n. Also: murmure, -mwr(e, -moir, mwrmwr, mowrmour. [ME. (Chaucer) and e.m.E. murmur(e, -mour, F. murmure, L. murmur.]
1. A more or less continuous or prolonged low sound or utterance.?1438 Alex. ii. 9765.
Of dusches and dyntes thare was sic dale … That men micht nocht the murmure here 1513 Doug. ii. v. 71.
He nane answer maid … Bot with ane hevy murmour as it war draw Furth of the boddum of his breist weil law 1513 Ib. x. vi. 13.
Bot quhar the flude went styll, and calmyt all is But stowr or bullyr, murmour or movyng 1513 Ib. xi. vii. 4.
Quhen all the Latynys … Fra hand to hand quhispyris fast and roundis On diuers wys demyng with murmour soundis 1513 Ib. iii. ii. 50. 1535 Stewart 57778.
With ane loude murmure and ane cairfull cry c1614 Mure Dido & Æneas i. 503.
Some, bussied in the hyve, great murmure mak, Whil others of the brood the charge do tak
2. Rumour, general talk.1513 Doug. ii. vi. 2.
In seyr placis … The murmur rays ay mair and mair I wys And clerar wolx the rumour and the dyne 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 37.
Now we ar informit and als greit murmur rissin that the said seiknes brekis 1532 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 385.
On to the tyme that this murmur laitlie risin of weir be stanchit 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 425.
Gret murmour is and mony sayis That sum solistars … Vincusis laweris in thare cause a1578 Pitsc. II. 283/35.
The murmure ȝeid throch the cuntrie that [etc.]
3. The expression of discontent, repinement or complaint; grumbling; also, the grievance occasioning this.a. As being bruited among a populace, gathering of people, etc. b. On the part of particular persons. c. Also, an instance of this.(1) c1420 Wynt. v. 2932.
Assemblyd befor the Emprioure And sayd at thai wald thaire murmure Rewelle till hym 1436 Coll. Aberd. & B. 394.
For eschewyng of mwrmwr of peipil c1450 Craft of Deyng (S.T.S.) 142.
To haf paciens, thankand God without murmur of that payne 1485–6 Newbattle Coll. (Somerville).
[Understanding] be complaynt murmur & persute of my tenandis … that the … malaris to Robert Logane … vsurppis [etc.] a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 149. 1525 Buccleuch Mun. 145.
For stanching of mowrmour and strangeeris and commoun wois of this realme 1529 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 122.
Considering the hawy murmour one the bel man be the landuart men 1532 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 59.
For till eschew … murmure and discord betuix the maltmen 1532 Acts Lords of Council MS. I. 44.
Thair is gret murmur risin … tuiching the money 1533 Acts Sederunt i. 15.
Forsamekle as ther cumis gret murmour to our eris that [etc.] 1535 Stewart 42476.
Thair at no man sould any murmoir mak 1535 Acts II. 349/1. 1547 Reg. Cupar A. II. 237.
But ony murmwr of the said Dauid 1552 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 2.
The grete mvrmour risin vpoun the hale borrowis in rasing of nouationis 1551 Hamilton Catechism 43. 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 191. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 3566.
Crying, murning … The Empreour hard the murmure at the last 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 153/19.
As to the vngodlie mwrmwr and ignorant iugement of the cuntre vndeserwit 1558-66 Knox II. 202.
Then the greatest part off this realme should be destitute of all doctrine, whiche should be occasioun of greate murmure a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS clxxiv. 2.
Sair is the recent murmur and regrat Amang the leges rysin off the lait(2) 1533 Bell. Livy I. 292/6.
Than was ane murmour amang the pepill that twa tabillis ȝit laikit c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. cxxxv. 39.
Makand ane mwrmour to the hewin That thai get nocht for gud seruys 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 2926.
Persaue weill quhair ony murmure be, Ony sorrow, sturt, greting or murning
d. Discontentment, annoyance.a1500 Prestis of Peblis 564 (Ch.).
Fra this sair man now cummin is the King, Hauand in mynd greit murmure and mouing, And in his hart greit hauines and thocht
e. ? Something that causes annoyance; an affliction, a disease.a1500 King Hart 880.
Heidwerk hoist and parlasy maid grit pay And murmouris mo with mony speir and targe
