A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Thrum, n. Also: thrumb, thrwm, throm, throomb, trum. [ME and e.m.E. throme (1346), thromme (1426), thrumme (1439), throm (15th c.), thrum (Shakespeare), OE þrum.]
1. Chiefly pl.: The unwoven ends of the warp-threads left attached to the loom; such threads used in making other commodities. Also coll. and attrib. Also fig.See also Moppat n. for further examples.pl. 14.. Acts I 337/2.
Off chalance of wobstaris … thai mak our lang thrwmys in skaithing of the peple 1494 Treas. Acc. I 249.
Item, gyffyne for thrummys, xij d. 1568 Edinb. Test. 182b.
Ane wost of ane wob of ane stane wecht … half ane stane of thrumes 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 225.
As the webster doth cut off the web from the throombs of his beam, so the Lord hath taken resolute purpose to cut off my life from his beam 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 225.
He goeth forward, and he saith, ‘He hath cutted him off from his beam’, or from the throombes that go about the beam, as ye call them 1669 Edinb. Test. LXXIII 319b.
Two coverings ane thairof of thrumes and the vther of black and whyt 1683 New Mills Manuf. 60.
Mr. Spurroway … propossing that some persones have a mind to buy up the thrums comes of the cloath it is ordered that he take up the thrums into his own custodie and lives to those that goe first out to give the weavers … what they think fitt 1693 Acts IX 312/1.
That all weavers leave at the end of each piece and halfe piece three finger breadth of the warp yarne unwafted to remain for thrumbs to each piece or half piece(b) 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 56a.
For thromes viii s.coll. 1681 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI 39.
Three quarters of a pack of linen yarne and trumattrib. 1543 Treas. Acc. VIII 180.
Twa thrum hattis of silk, price of the pece xiiij s. 1568 Edinb. Test. 215b.
Twa thrum hattis price of thame vj s.fig. 1629 Boyd Last B. (1629) 14.
Let nowe the rotten thrummes of the vices of your life fall downe to the ground
b. A thread.1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 189.
Elspet Strachund … is indydtit to haue charmit Mage Clark … for the fewers … with ane sleipth and ane thrum
2. The stamen of a flower.1683 Reid Sc. Gard'ner (1721) 118.
Then be careful to go through in the wornings, and gather the saffron, viz. the thrums that are in the midle of the flowers
