A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Prime, Pryme, n.1 [ME (c 1200) and e.m.E., OE prím, F. prime (1119 in Greimas), late L. prīma the canonical hour and its office, f. L. prīma hōra the first hour in the Roman reckoning, or 6 a.m.]
1. The ecclesiastical hour of Prime or the office said at that hour. Also comb. in prime-mes.The office of Prime began at 6 a.m. or sunrise: see the etym. note.1328 Reg. Episc. Morav. 287.
[In officiis divinis … ut … teneantur officiando interesse in choro ecclesie cathedralis matutinis, prime, majori misse] ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 623.
The houris of oure ladyis dollouris … .At prime scho followit him to Pilotis place 1501 Treas. Acc. II 62.
To vj priestis of the College of Strivelin … quhen tha began to sing prime and houris a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 470.
At prime a1538 Abell 113 a.
He come dailie to lady mes pryme mes quhen he held cheptur & hie mes & eynsang quhen he wes nocht stoppit
2. The first hour of the day, i.e. six a.m. or sunrise; more loosely, early morning.Also prime of the day.(1) 1375 Barb. xv 55 (E).
Sa knychtlik … [they] rid That pryme wes passyt or men mycht se Quha [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii 667.
To-morne at pryme thow sall him se 14.. Acts I 335/2.
At thai by gudis befor the lauchfull hour that is to say prime [L. horam primam] in somer and the thrid hour in wynter a1500 Henr. III 153/84 (Bann.).
Minister this medecyne at evin to sum man And or pryme be past … Thay sall blis ȝow a1500 Sir Eger 857.
On the eight day of the prime a1500 Seven S. 2248.
To morne be pryme Ȝour son sall … all declare 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 672.
Awaitit heir sen prime 1570 Sat. P. xxi 87.
And, had thay force, or it war pryme, Ȝe wald se thair intent(2) c1450-2 Howlat 40 (A).
Be pryme of the day I herd [etc.] a1500 Rauf C. 23.
3. The first appearance of the new moon.c 1560 Exch. R. XVIII lxxiv.
Marche, eftir the first T, Luke the pryme whenevir it be. The thrid Sonday, I wis, Evirmair Pasche day is; And gif on Sonday fallis the pryme, Tell it for ane a1568 Bann. MS 83 b/3.
Lyk as the mone chaingis befoir the pryme Sa [etc.] a1605 Montg. Flyt. 358 (H).
Ilke moone be thow madd, Fra past be the prymes [: tymes, crymes, raterrymes] 1687 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXVII 147.
It hath been excessive rains … which makes true the common proverbe that Saturndays chainge and Sondays prime once in seven years is out of time
4. The first season of the year, springtime.So also e.m.E. (1541) and OF.c1590 Fowler I 120/66.
I saw the frost with roses mixt the harwest with the pryme
