A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: <1375, 1375, 1533-1558, 1652-1684
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(Rimour,) Rymo(u)r, n.1 Also: rhythmer. [Late ME and e.m.E. rymor (1422), -are (c1440), -er (a1568), AF rimour, rymour, OF rimere, rimeor, rimeur (12th-13th c. in Larousse).] A writer of verse; a poet. b. A bard; a versifier; a strolling performer.(a) 1296 Rot. Sc. 29/1.
Johannes le Rymour vic' de Berewyk 1533 Boece 246.
Fyn Makcoul of huge stature … of quham be gestouris and rymouris … is frequent mencioun amang the vulgare pepill 1533 Ib. 320b.
Rymouris geistouris, bardis, skaffaris, and sic kynde of men, he causit thame … devode the realme 1535 Stewart 46938.
Ane propheit … Quhilk Thomas Rymour callit wes for scorne a1538 Abell 93a.
Thomas Lermwnd (callit Rymor becaus he spak mekill prophice) 1558 ‘Regester’ at Taymouth in Origines Parochiales II i 157.
[Granted to him for life, and to Arnald … his son, and his heirs male, being] rymouris (joculatores), [in heritage, the two marklands of Barmulloch … for payment … of £4 Scots at entry by Arnold and his heirs being] rymouris, [and of 4 marks Scots … by his heirs not being] rymouris 1652 Argyll Sas. I 131.(b) 1684 Symson Descr. Galloway 178.
Providing ordinary ballad-makers, countrey rhythmers, mercenary epitaph-mongers … be wholy excluded the number
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"Rimour n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rimour_n_1>
