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Chalmer, n. Also: chalmar(e, -ere, -eir, -ir(e, -yr, -our; chaly-, challmer, chalmmir; chalmber; schalmer, schallmer, schalmar, schalmir. [Later spelling of chaumer Chawmer, with usual Sc. substitution of al for aw. The common form after 1500.]

1. A chamber or room; spec. a private room, a bedroom.For chalmer of dais or deis, chapel-, hall-, scule-, writingchalmer see these words.(a) 1473 Treasurer's Accounts I. 16.
x elne of canves to mak Nikky and Bell a bed to ly on in the Kingis chalmire 1474 Ib. 65.
To Androu Balfour … for his bent to the chalmiris 1477 Reg. Cupar A. I. 206.
With seruys and cariage of our fische and bent to our chalmer 1487 Brus v. 287 (C).
In a chalmer [E. chambre] preualy He held him and his cumpany1487 Ib. xi. 118.
Apparall of chalmyr [E. chambyr] and hall 1496 Treasurer's Accounts I. 270.
For the grathing of the Kingis chalmeris 1498 Reg. Morton II. 253.
The said abbot … has grantyt to the said Thomas … ane chalmer within the samyne [convent] 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 289/9.
At a trape within hire chalmare … thai ware lattyn fall doun 1513 Doug. iv. ii. 63.
Within hir chalmyr alane scho langis sayr 1519 Dunferm. B. Rec. 298.
Ane hovs contenand ane hall & chalmer abovne 1531 Bell. Boece I. 231.
The wache herand the granis of ane deand man, enterit haistely in the chalmer 1535 Acts II. 346/2.
That thai caus all ostillaris … to haue honest chalmeris and bedding for resaving of all passingeris 1550 Glasgow Protocols Abstracts I. 18.
The foir uvyr hows, viz., hall, chalmer and wairdrop, with the peis waist 1553 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 76.
Gevin for twa dalis to be ane skelf in the clerkis chalmer 1558-66 Knox II. 389.
The Quene … commanded the said Johne to pas furth of the cabinet, and to abyd farther of hir pleasur in the chalmer 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 237.
In ane nuyk of the sayd chalmer besyd ane chymnay 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 335.
Thair was in ane chalmer togither callid the laich chalmer … xiiij or xvj men 1580 Rec. Earld. Orkney 355.
Ane hall and seller and chalmer thairabone 1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 137.
To flitt and remove himself, seruandis and guidis, fra ane north mid chalmer of the almoushous tenement 1594 Misc. Spald. C. II. 124.
Ye … come to his hous … and brak the north syd of his chalmer in the thak 1613 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs II. 428.
The Maister of the Consergerie … sall apoint ane, tua, or mair roomes and chalmeirs to be ordinaire eitting roomes 1639 Master of Works Accounts XXIX. 20.
For poynting of … the heghe wardrop and the chalmare that gois out to the bartesing c1650 Spalding I. 18.
He … suddantlie ran wp stairis to Rothimayis chalmer, and walkirnt him to rys 1655 Blairs P. 64.
Old F. Radisind is iust sitting in his chalmer as ye left him(b) 1596 Dalr. I. 328/18.
How sune that he was receauet, he was borne in till a chalmber 1633 Master of Works Accounts XXV. 17.
Ane great round chimlay to the chalmber of presence 1635 Haddington Corr. 302.
In the bak rowme of the said chalmber, quhilk is the mid chalmber in the jam 1635 Ib. 303.
In the high inner chalmber of the old toure 1646 Mun. Univ. Glasg. IIII. 490.
Six high chalmbers sayloured at 30 s. the peice, One high chalmber unsayloured(c)1532 Perth Tack SRO GD 45/13/323.
Baith my foir schalmeris 1562 Edinb. B. Deeds 23b.
Tua schalmeris and tua salleris lyand withein ane tennement of land 1565 Protocol Book of Gilbert Grote 68.
Ane leticampe bed that standis in my bak schalmer 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 165.
Schalmir 1574 Dumfries B. Rec. MS 2 March.
The bak schalmer couerit with burds be hynd 1592–3 Dundee Treas. Acc. MS.
Schallmer 1597 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 17b.
For our pas fra the pound schalmer 1598 Ib. 12a.
Out of the pond schalmer ii marks 1611 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 339.
The courie [= equerry] schalmer 1612 Ib. 325.
The tour schalmer above the Regesterhous is to be pavementit all throw 1612 Ib. 326.
The lang stairis quhilk is the onlie passage to all the tofall schalmeris

b. In the designations of attendants in the royal household.1473 Treasurer's Accounts I. 15.
To a child of the chalmire, iiij elne of braid claith for ij sarkis 1473 Ib. 68.
Gevin to McMwlane the barbour … for the leichcraft done be him to the litil boys of the chalmire, xl s. 1588 Exchequer Rolls XXI. 403.
To William Murray, varlett of his majesteis chalmer, for his pensioun1635 Sutherland Corr. 160.
Schir Robert Gordone, gentleman of his majesties priwie schalmar 1636 Ib. 163.
Sir Robert Gordone, … gentleman of his Majesties privie chalmer

c. In figurative uses.c1450-2 Howlat 725.
Haile, chalmer of chastite c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 431.
To furnyse a bancat In Venus chalmer 1562-3 Winȝet II. 61/30.
The inwart chalmer of the Kirk, quhilk is the temple of God

2. A separate charge-piece in early forms of ordnance.1538 Treasurer's Accounts VI. 413.
Bocht to his grace iiij^xx vj bersis of irne, ilk bers havand iij chalmeris 1540 Ib. VII. 347.
Gevin to twa pynouris for dountaking of xxx chalmeris of the heid of Davidis towris … with vthir chalmeris and munitioun 1542 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 577.
ij irne gunnis without stockis, and four chalmeris and stane calmis thairto 1542 Ib.
Five chalmeris and calmis of brais 1551 Treasurer's Accounts X. 32.
vj cart draucht of chalmers of gunnys brocht furtht of Leith to the castell of Edinburght 1558 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 21.
Iames Adamsoun, thesaurer, to by … vj cutthrottis with thair chalmeris and calmes 1581 Mar & Kellie MSS. 35.
Twa bombardis of iryne … with three chalmers of iryne effierant tharto 1599 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 250.
[The council] ordanis the thesaurer to trye … quhatt may be gottin for the tounis slayngs lyand in the Kirkyard of Leyth and to caws seik the chalmers owt of the castell

3. Attrib. (in sense 1) with bed, box, boy, chimney, clock, fe, flure, geir, glas, gowne, key, kist, maill, page, pot, rowme, stule, table, talk, window. See also Chalmer burd(e, Chalmer che(i)ld, Chalmer dur(e, Chalmer glew and Chalmer mail(l. Compare the corresponding attributive uses of Chamber, Chamer, and Chawmer.1619 Misc. Bann. C. I. 201.
Comeing to the chalmer beds quher the attenders lay —1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 11.
Ten merk furth of the clerks chalmer boxe 1635 Haddington Corr. 301.
Ane chalmber box with ane pan —a1578 Pitsc. I. 325/10.
He tuik tuo servantis witht him … ane ȝoung man of the stabill with ane secreit challmer boy 1591 Thanes of Cawdor 201.
To Donald Campbell, my Lordis chalmer boy —1611 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 334.
For nailling ane brod of the quenes schalmer schemley1612 Brechin Testaments III. 256.
Ane chalmer chemney of irone 1627 Edinburgh Testaments LIV. 55.
Ane chalmer chimlay —1621-40 Melville Commonpl. Bk. 31.
Of small clocks or chalmer clocks —1522 Acts Lords of Council MS. XXXIII. 71.
To the said ourlord … for chalmer feis at the making of the said resignacioun 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Feodum.
The exhorbitant prices of all sortes of … seales, registers, and chalmer fie —1538 Master of Works Accounts V. 36 b.
Certane faill and dewottis to be layit in certane chalmer fluris 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 6634.
The knicht, I say ȝow sure, Quhome ȝe did drowne, is in my chalmer flure —1575 Edinburgh Testaments III. 375 b.
He levis … to Johne Grahame … the haill chalmer geir as it standis 1591 Ib. XXII 376.
In chalmer geir and abuilȝementis of his bodie —1653 Ib. LXVII. 144 b.
Ane chalmer glas with ane wainscot caice —1644 Ib. LXI. 2 b.
Ane riche chalmer gowne of greine sateine —1622 Elgin Rec. II. 174.
Niniane Dauidsone took out the chalmer key with the crook of the ladill —1592 Edinburgh Testaments XXIV. 213 b.
I leif … to Jonet Robesone … my chalmer kist burd quhair my sarkis lyis —1624 Peebles Gleanings 49.
To the scoole maister, for his fie and schalmer maill 1634 Ib. 170. — 1487 Brus v. 580 (C).
A chalmir-page thar vith him ȝeid —1593 Edinburgh Testaments XXV. 239 b.
Thre dossone chalmer pottis c1680 W. Row Blair 421.
He called for the chalmer-pot, and passed some stones —1572 Inverness B. Rec. I. 221.
Ane chalmer rowme within the kirk yeard —1626 Edinburgh Testaments LIII. 319.
Ane Ingleis chalmer stuile estimat to x merkis 1643 Ib. LX. 241.
Fower chalmer stullis 1654 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 297.
Ane chalmber stoole —1636 Edinburgh Testaments LVII. 279.
Ane canebie bed, ane chalmer table 1652 Ib. LXVI. 56.
Ane chalmer table worth iiij lib. —1614 Mure Misc. P. vii. 14.
As chalmer talk divulgats on the street —1532 Master of Works Accounts II. 62 b.
xiij fute of glas to the grete chalmer wyndo within the dusty hall 1558-66 Knox II. 270.
A cumpany of the most honest, with instrumentis of musick, … geve thair salutationis at hir chalmer wyndo