A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1456, 1554-1685
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Chamber, Chawmbyr(e, n. Also: chambre, -byr, -bure, schamber, schameber. [ME. chamber (-ir, -yr), chambre, early chaumber, -bre (a 1225), OF. chambre, AF. chaumbre. Cf. Chamer and Chawmer.]
1. A chamber.The later examples are due to English influence.(a) 1375 Barb. ii. 7 (E).
He wald in his chambre be A weill gret quhile in priuate 1375 Ib. 57.
He, sen ȝhystirday, Duelt in his chambyr ythanly 1375 Ib. v. 287.
In a chambre priuely c1400 Troy-bk. i. 340.
Thane enterit thai in chambris wight c1420 Wynt. iii. 52.
His famyle thare … That was the chambure than wytht out 1456 Hay II. 112/21.
Than wald men purvay thame … of calde chamberis and single clething 1596 Dalr. I. 125/26.
We haue certane offices … named … fra comptes, fra lettiris or secreits, fra chambre, clathis, or capis 1653 Hope Diary 157.
I went fumouslie benne to the chambre(b) c1420 Wynt. ii. 45.
Semyramys, his wyff, … In tyll hyr chawmbyr than syttand c1420 Ib. iv. 2616; etc.
That chawmbyre syne he gert … halowyd be(c) 1554 Peebles B. Rec. I 411.
To William Smayle of Sanct Lenerdis for ane schameber to the pyper xv s. 1560–1 Craven Ch. in Orkney II 6.
Ane chapell hard at the scheik of the schamber quhair I wes lyand seik 1603–4 Dundee Treas. Acc. MS.
2. Attrib. with bed, box, boy, boord, cape, child, dure, goun, play.Compare the similar attrib. uses of Chalmer n. 1668 Edinburgh Testaments LXXIII. 155 b.
Ane table, thrie chamber beds, fyve chyres — 1664 Ib. LXXI. 376 b.
Ane old chamber box covered with lethir 1685 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries LVIII. 355.
A chamber box with a pan in it — c1420 Wynt. viii. 6926.
Wyth hym off Inglis broucht he nane, Wyth-owt a chambyre-boy allane — 1630 Bamff Chart. 223.
Twa grein boord claths, ane for the hall boord and the uther for the chamber boord — 1680 Breadalbane P. (Reg. H.) Tours 2 b.
A chamber-cape of black velvet — a1578 Pitsc. I. 186/24; a1578 Ib. 187/7.
The Duik … gaif his chamberchyld command that he sould drink no wyne that night 1588 Cath. Tr. 180.
S. Peter chambrechyld to Diocletiane mart. — c1420 Wynt. iii. 58.
Sone a key thai gat And opynyt the chambure dowre witht that c1420 Ib. viii. 1076.
He made hym … Kepare off hys chawmbyre dure — 1607 Edinburgh Testaments XLII. 364.
Ane chamber goun of tanny claytht — c1420 Wynt. ii. 67.
Off chawmbyr play scho was nevyre sade c1420 Ib. 1356.
The bul … on hyr gat in chambure play A barn
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"Chamber n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/chamber>
