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: 1400-1420, 1475-1670
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Roum, Rowm(e, adj. Also: roume; rome; room(e. [ME and e.m.E. rume (Orm), roum (Cursor M.), rowme (Rolle), room (c1635), OE rúm, ON rúmr, MDu. ruum, ruym, MLG rûm, ruem.]
1. Spacious; extensive; broad. ? Passing into: b. attrib., of a house: Having adequate free space because cleared of contents, occupants, etc. (Cf. Ruddiman's definition of 1710, s.v. Room adj. in SND). Also proverb.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2440.
It was a faire rowme wasty wones c1420 Wynt. i 385.
[Noah's ark], Thowcht on hycht it narowe wes, Wndyr rowme of mare larges c1420 Ib. iii 927.
Sa rowme wyth-in wes it [sc. a bull of brass] That ewyne wp rycht a man mycht syt c1420 Ib. iv 692. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii 986.
A rowme passage to the wallis [they] thaim dycht c1475 Ib. (1570) ix 520.
Wemen and barnis … thay … gaif thame leif in the rowme land to ga [MS in to realm to ga] a1500 King Hart 947.
To vant and voky ȝe beir this rowm slef 1513 Doug. xiii ix 28.
To behald thame walkyn to and fro Throw the rowm hallys 1531 Bell. Boece I xxxv. 1533 Id. Livy I 119/23.
Ane commoun fousye with rowme and depe synkis gangand vnder the erde to the rivere 1535 Stewart 1 1883.
He set his feild furth on ane rowmar plane 15.. Clariodus iii 1344.
And furth thay glyd Atowre the floodis that ar baith roume and wyd 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 406.
Lat vs thair mak ane hous baith rowme & squair 1571 Lanark B. Rec. 64.
With ane esse roum stair thairto gangand 1576 Protocol Book of A. Millar 34.
To mak thair ȝaird mair rowme & commodieous 1629 Boyd Last B. 121.
As Balaamis asse thrusted his master to the wall in a roume way 1670 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 82 (14 July).
About the sicercell of that roum knowe at the north side of the mosse(b) 1580–1 Lanark B. Rec. 78.
To mak the passage mair braid and romer(2) 1582 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 72.
Any sufficient rowme hous meit for the purpose [sc. to be a school] 1638 Cant Sermon (1741) 17.
The King of Kings … has a ready feast and room house … and every body shall be welcome 1656 S. Leith Rec. 105/1.
A convenient roum house with a division tharin … quhar both his owne vulgar schooll and musick school may be … accomodatt 1657 Argyll Synod II 156.
For the peoples accomodatione at Lochaber for heering of preaching tuo roume houses, spacious and largeproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 81 (cf. Roumy adj.).
A fair fyre maks a rowme flet a1628 Ib. No. 1064.
Litle plenishing maks a rowme house
b. The rowm se(is, the open sea.c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1978.
Tharfor in haist to the rowm se 1533 Boece 132b.
Tha devayit apoun the rowme seis certane tyme ?1622 Melrose P. 458.
Affirming that what he had done wes in the rowme seas
2. fig., of conscience: a. ? Broad (as opposed to narrow, scrupulous); over-tolerant; permissive. b. Clear; empty.a. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 120/42.
Kirkmen so halie ar … That on thair conscience rowme and rude May turne aucht oxin and ane waneb. 1622 Scot Course of Conformity 109.
A narrow faith makes a roome conscience
3. Only in Lithgow, of winds: Favourable.Cf. Orkney Sc. roume ample, favourable (1719), Norw. rom convenient for sailing.But perh. a rendering of F. large (in vent large) crossing the line of a ship's course in a favourable direction.1632 Lithgow Trav. ii 45.
This hauen wherein we lay, expecting roome windes 1632 Ib. 59.
Having roome windes, and a fresh gale, in 24 houres we discovered the ile
