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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.

Chymmis, n. Also: chymmys(e, -ysse, -yce, chymys, chymmeis, -es, chimmes. [OF. chymois, var. of chemois Chemis. See also Schimmis.]

1. The chief mansion or manor-house of an estate.Occas. with the addition of chefe or principale.(1) 1364 Reg. Great S. 37/2.
Nullus seriandus neque coronator debet officium suum facere infra dictam baroniam nisi primo veniat ad chymys domini dicte baronie 1429 Melville Chart. 22.
We … gafe to the said Iohn Maluil saisine heretabill of the thrid part … of the said landis of Grefestoun, at the chymmes of it 1465 Wemyss Chart. 86.
[To] gif heritabill state and possessioune at the chymmis of the saidis landis … to the … berare of this precept 1488 Acta Aud. 128/1.
All and hale his landis of … , Michelstoun, the Blare, his chymmeis with croftis [etc.] 1507 Grant Chart. 46.
To pas to the presens of Alexander Gordone, … giff he may be persnarlye apprehendyt, at the chymmyce off Mwldare 1529 Reg. Privy S. II. 38/1.
The landis … with the corn and walk myllis … the chimmes, croftis and brewlandis 1538 Ib. 393/1.
The landis of the Manis of Baky, with the maner place, chymmes, loch, ȝardis, partis, pendiculis tharofattrib. 1523 Reg. Great S. 54/2.
4 perticatas terrarum arabilium in territorio de R., prope le Lonyng et terras nuncupat. le Chymmys-land, vic. Linlithqw(2) 1464 Fam. Innes 78.
[To] pas to the cheyf chymmis of the landis of Abirkerdour … but delay 1483 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. IX. 13.
I … passit to the cheif chymmys of the landis of Hardgraif 1500 Reg. Great S. 537/1.
Land of auld extent liand nixt and togiddir to the said chief chymmes 1540 Acts II. 379/2.
The manere place … to be biggit to be the principale chymmes of the said barony

2. A chief town or city. c1420 Wynt. i. 1084.
Tyatyra … That is of Lydys a cite, And chymys off that lande sulde be Ib. iv. 273.
Babilone … That chymys [C. chymysse] was off Assyry Ib. 1285.
Thare chymys and thare cheffe towne 1531 Bell. Boece I. 29.
Quhilk biggit … the ciete of Camelon, the principall chimmes of Pichtis

3. A mansion, dwelling, house. 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 2.
As bryght Phebus … The opposit held of hys chymmys hie Ib. viii. vi. 126.
The mychty gret Enee Wythin his narrow chymmis leidis he Ib. xi. vi. 22, etc.
Chargeand thai suld in his palice convene Onto the riall chymmys