A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Rumo(u)r, Rewmour, n. Also: rwmor; romur, -our, -er. [ME and e.m.E. rumour (Chaucer), -ur, also romour (north., c1440), rymour (north., c1400), OF rimor, rumor, rumeur (1080, c1180 and 13th c. in Larousse), L. rūmōr- noise, din.]
1. General or widespread report (of a person's character, good or bad).Rumour of pepill, malicious gossip. Evil rumour, ill report.?1438 Alex. ii 5277.
Ȝe that of valour, Of worship and of honour, Hes of all men rumor and cry c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 332.
I wald haif ridden him to Rome with raip in his heid Wer not ruffill of my renoune and rumour of pepill 1513 Doug. vi xiv 42.
The feruent lufe of his kynd natyve land … Mot al evil rumour fra his lawd byvaue
2. The rumour, popular report; a story generally believed, but without any foundation in certain knowledge; hearsay. Also quasi-personified.1513 Doug. iii viii 141.
The rumour is, doun thrung vndir this mont [sc. Etna] Enchelades body with thundir lyis half bront Ib. xi x 59.
Ȝon … myschews Enee, As that the rumour surly hes maid kend, And als my spyis schawis was thidder send, A certane horsmen … Hes send befor —1542 State P. No. 31a.
The rumor and noyes of the cuntre com to me … and said [etc.]
b. A particular instance of this; a report given popular currency in a community without certain proof of its truth or accuracy; a rumour.Freq. const. of or appositive clause.(1) 1463–4 Acts XII 30/1.
The kingis declaratioun … thai hald sufficiant to purge the said Alexander … of the said voice and rumor 1513 Doug. vii ii 84.
Dywlgat round abowt is The noys and rumour throu the Troiane rowtis; The day was cummyn and the place quhar thai Thar cite promist suld beld 1596 Dalr. II 172/1.
Quhen the rumour ran ouer al that the French king had confiderit with the King of Ingland(b) c1475 Wall. vi 7.
The rewmour rais … With Inglis men that Wallace leiffand war(c) ?1600 Misc. Bann. C. I 149.
As for thir romuris that gois that the king was ane doar and not ane sufferer [etc.](2) 1513 Doug. x ix 1.
Nane incertane rumour nor demyng, Bot sovyr boydword … of this gret myschance 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 110.
The rumour of the revissing of hir majestie come to the provest of Edinburgh 1635 Dumbarton B. Rec. 48.
In regaird of the bruit and rumor of the plaig of pestilence c1650 Spalding II 20.
Gryte rumovris of sturr in England(b) 1547 Treas. Acc. IX 95.
Notwithtstanding the romer ryssyn of the departing of the Inglische schippes(3) 1513 Doug. iv v 32.
Thys ilke wensch … with mony a taill, Glaidly this rumour gan throu the pepill skaill, Telland the thing wrocht and not wrocht togiddir 1513 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 143.
Ane greit rumour now laitlie rysin … tuiching our souerane lord … of the quhilk we understand thair is cumin na veritie as yit 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 56.
Nouther do I affirme the rumouris spred of hir in France in tyme of hir first mariage c1575 Balfour Pract. 537.
That na persoun be ane conspiratour or inventer of narratiounis, rumouris, taillis, or suspitiounis, quhairthrow discord may arise betwix [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 44/2.
Sic quyet rwmor spread throw the haill companie that [etc.] 1600 Reg. Privy C. VI 164.
Sum restles and busie personis hes dispersit bruittis and rumouris amangis his hienes subjectis
c. A popular or widespread belief.1577 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 38.
Thair is ane rumour in the countrie that the mesour of the pek is nocht alyk with euery man that hes the samyn seillit
d. The sound of a trumpet.c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 628.
The trumpettis blew with sic kin noyis & tone The rumour rais with ane fell reird and cry
3. Public disapproval; protest, openly expressed.1468 Acts II 92/1.
The grete romour that is past becaus of diuersiteis of payment with in the realme … And for til eschew the romour hereof … it is … ordanyt that [etc.]
b. Confused noise or din; clamour (sometimes arising from fear or panic); outcry.c1475 Wall. vi 554.
The rewmour rais so rudly thaim amang, That all the ost was than in poynt to fle a1500 Colk. Sow i 197.
A new noyment and nois With a rumour vprois 1513 Doug. xi v 69.
The rumour rays and murmour principaly Of bewalyng all owt the maist party Ib. ix 7.
A messynger com ruschand in … with huge rumour and a feirfull dyn Fillit onon the kyngis riall in c1590 Fowler I 45/230.
And so with noyse and rumour greit these thrie than passed by
c. The crying of birds; the roaring of animals.1513 Doug. v ix 34.
The fowle affrayt flychtris on hir weyngis; Of gret rumour than al the feildis ryngis 1549 Compl. 38/23.
I herd the rumour of rammasche foulis ande of beystis c1590 Fowler I 68/28.
Evin as wyld lyons two With roring rumour other beasts in rage rancounters so
