A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Soum, Sowm, Som(e, n.4 Also: soume, sowme, sume, soym(e, soam(e, soome, solme. [Appar. f. as Soumn.3 Also in the later Sc. and north. Eng. dials.]
1. A trace for attaching a draught animal to a plough or cart. Also, iron soume (som of yron), chain used for this purpose.Also, foot soome, ‘an iron chain of eight or ten feet long, extending from the muzzle of the plough, and fixed to the yoke of the oxen next the plough’ (Jam.).Also in fig. context.Cf. also Hede-soyme n.(1) 1513 Doug. vii x 79 (Sm.).
Al instrumentis of pleuch graith, irnit or stelit, As culturis, sokis, and the sovmis gret 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV 369.
Thrie sowmes with ane cut widdie price xxiij s 1662 Crim. Trials III 603.
Paddokis did draw the plewgh, as oxen; qwickens wer sowmes [etc.](b) c1460 Liber Aberbr. II 108.
Quhilk baillye passit to the said land and straik the sommys in twa and hewyt the plwche 1516 Fife Sheriff Ct. 26.
The graith of hir pleuch that is to say somys, syderapis, culter [etc.] 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 386.
[They] cuttit the plewis, brak the somes thairof, hundit away the oxin [etc.](c) 1375 Barb. x 182.
Than hastyly He suld stryk with the ax in twa The soyme [sc. of the hay-wain] 1375 Barb. x 233.
He … hewit in twa the soym in hy(d) 1489–90 Acta Aud. 137/1.
Withaldin … a pleuch with irnis ȝokis svme and vther graith(e) a1646 Wedderburn Voc. (1709) 9.
De re rustica … Catena, the soam 1671 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 25 Jan.
Decernes Thomas Carsane … to pay to Johne McCrobbert thrie punds and ane plack for thrie clepps of ane soame(f) 1594 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 305.
Micheall Dungalsoun … to pey to John McClellane ane culter of ane pleuche with ane solme quhilk he intromettit with 1609 Reg. Privy C. VIII 331.
[They] cutit the solmes of the same pleuch 1633 Edinb. Test. LVI 217.
Sex drawing oxin with thair ȝokis solmes and thair nett graith 1658 Boyd Fam. P. No. 236 (27 Feb.). 1661 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 345.(2) 1598 Edinb. Test. XXXI 324b.
Plew irnes with thrie furneist ȝokis with irne someis and bowis 1610 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 163.
Fyw irine sommes 1614 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 26 Dec.
For the thyftous steilling … in harvest last of ane irn some 1645 Army of the Covenant I 34.
Iron soames 1678 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 269.
Mair I acclam him four pun scots for twa iron soms 16… Pleugh-Song in Wode's Psalter (ed.) 241.
Soms of yron stark enough(3) 1686 Brechin Test. VII 162.
Two lands ane foot soome and ane brydle(4) fig. 1638 Henderson Serm. 264.
He has cutted asunder the somes wherewith they were drawing the pleugh of their cruelty
b. ? A misreading of Isaiah ii 4, and Micah iv 3.1535 Stewart 5593.
Thair wapynis all quhilk war bayth hard and teuche, Hes maid thame all in somes to thair pleuche
2. A rope, belt, strap or chain for dragging or tying up a large, heavy object. Also, soume of leddir, and iron soome.(1) 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 513.
For xx stane of towis to be soumes for the gunnys 1530–1 Treas. Acc. V 411.
For ane soume to turs the kingis bed in till 1538–9 Treas. Acc. VII 144.
To Robert Rannald, saidlare, for ane grete soume to the Kingis bedgeir price v li. 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII 131.
Wirkand upoune the making of the soumes and thetis, terring and cuppeling of the samin, … and mending and tirring of lxx ald somes 1545 Treas. Acc. VIII 422.
For tymmer to be nalis to the sowmys [sc. of guns](2) 1538–9 Treas. Acc. VII 138.
For ane soume of leddir to beir the said matt, bowstare, coveratouris and blancatis witht 1541–2 Treas. Acc. VIII 64.
Ane grete soume of ledder to turs the bed 1545–6 Treas. Acc. VIII 441.
Ane doubill soume of leddar(3) 1661 Stirling Common Good 9.
Payed … for ane iron soome to draw the milnstones
