A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Umber, Umbre, n.1 Also: wmbre, ombre. [ME and e.m.E. vmber (Cursor M.), vmbre (Wyclif), OF umbre, L. umbra.]
1. Shadow. = S(c)had(d)ow n. 4.a1400 Leg. S. i 186.
In vertu als he had mar grace Than ony at with Crist than wes … For his vmbre heilyt sek men a1500 Seven S. 332.
Thar ma na gudding it avalȝe, This treis vmbre garris it falȝe 1549 Compl. 56/15 (see S(c)had(d)ow n. 4).
b. A wraith, phantom. = S(c)had(d)ow n. 7.1604-31 Craig ii 86/8.
Thou seems to be a quick & liuing leid And not a vmber, nor a palled ghaist
c. An instance of shading.1581-1623 James VI Poems I 201/41.
Lyke a painter shaddouing uith ombres [1591 vmbers] a pourtrait ellis drauin in grosse for geuing it greatter uiunes so I eike or paire to the circumstances of the actionis as the reulis of the poetike airt uill permitt
2. Shade. = S(c)had(d)ow n. 2.1549 Compl. 34/19 (see S(c)had(d)ow n. 2). 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 146.
Thare enterit divers wylde beistis in the ȝarde, and under the umbre of the dyik thay make thare dennis and cavernis c1590 J. Stewart 86/236.
O cawe obscuir aggriabill to thois Quho vold tham cuile in thy fresche vmber deir
b. A patch of shade, a shady place.1604-31 Craig ii 151/7.
For we shall on the mountains go, In shaddie vmbers too and fro
3. transf. or fig. a. Covering, protection. = S(c)had(d)ow n. 6 a.c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 134.
Suich feynit treuth is all bot trechorye, Vnder the vmbre of hid ypocrisye 1456 Hay I 190/28.
God … was borne under the umbre of mariage 1543 Hamilton P. I 631.
[To] solist my lorde governour ondre the wmbre of the quenis grace autoritie
b. Outward appearance or show, semblance. Cf. S(c)had(d)ow n. 6 b, c.1472 Lennox Mun. 91.
Sene he hais be way of deide and nocht of law maid hym to taik possessioun of the said landys be ane new gyft by all forme and ordour, it may nocht be callit possessioun, syng na vmber of possessioun 1563 G. Hay Confutation Abbot Crosraguel 22b.
The speaking can not be proper, but alwayes metaphoricall from the umber & shoddowe to expres the veritie c1590 Fowler II 21/6.
This thy writing the vmbre & shaddow of thy actionis is voyd of wit
c. A foreshadowing, prefiguration. = S(c)had(d)ow n. 6 d.1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 26/28 (see S(c)had(d)ow n. 6 d). 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 137/31.
Sen the Jeuis … had sua coistlie and riche apparellis in the tempill of Hierusalem quhilk vas bot ane schaddou and vmbre, hou can ye eschaip to be iniureous vnto Christ, sen ye vill that the kirkis quhilk are dedicat to his honore be alluterlie destitute of all precious and riche apparell 1581 Burne Disput. 25b (see S(c)had(d)ow n. 6 d).
