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.
Stam, Stem(e, n. [ME stampne (1336-7), stamyn (14th c.), stam, stamyne (both ?a1400), stamne (1405-10), ON stamn, cognate with ME and e.m.E. stem, OE stęmn; cf. For(e)stam n.] The stem of a ship. See Bertil Sandahl Middle English Sea Terms I 96 ff. —1513 Doug. viii xii 22.
A crown with stammys [Sm. stammys, Ruddim. stanes; L. tempora navali fulgent rostrata corona] sic as schippis beris 1513 Doug. x vi 29.
The … bargis … Inrowand fast towart the Latyn grond Quhyl that thar stammys [Sm. stammis, Ruddim. stammes] tuke the bankis dry, And thar kelys stak in the slyke 1531 Bell. Boece I 195.
War certane penneis found … sum … prentit … with the stam [M. stam] of ane schip 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 6b.
Item, for the tembermen's doin q[uhen] shoe vos vpone the bank 3 li. Item, for 6 botes of ste[m]es 24 li. Item, to the penter 16 li.
