Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Clame, v. [OF. clamer: cf. Claym(e v. and Cleme v.]

1. tr. To demand as one's own by right; to lay claim to (lands, etc.). a 1380 Rep. Hist. MSS., Var. Coll. V. 77.
He that is yer and day in peseabyll possession in any lande, clamande it of fee and herytage c1420 Wynt. viii. 1979.
He … gert hym be oblysyd stratly … That he suld nevyr clame na rycht Scotland till have 1443 Ayr Chart. 28.
As to the clame … clamand fredome … to stand in the merkate [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 273/30.
It that is anys clamyt and correkkit be justice suld nocht cum again to be newly correkkit a1500 Rauf C. 927.
The gentill duches, … that clamis be hir kin Angeos and vther landis 1485 Acta Conc. *107/1.
The somez clamyt be the said Patric apoun the said Thomas for boys wagis and hors liffra 1503 Dunferm. B. Rec. 137.
[Thai] promittit … to stand and abid of all actiounis debatable clamit be Vilyam Qvariour c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxiii. 2.
Sum lord … Fra quhom faine kyndnes I wald clame 1570 Sat. P. xviii. 55.
Thay dar neuer enter in iugement nor assysis, Nor clame thair lands 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 28.
The wife may clame her dowrie, as named be her vmquhile husband

2. To make a claim, assert a right, to do something. 1375 Barb. ii. 104.
Men has gert ȝow wndirstand Als that the Erle off Carryk Clamys to govern the kynryk Ib. xiii. 724.
Quha sa clamyt to haf richt To hald … land or fe c1420 Wynt. viii. 3327.
He syndry lordis fand, That clamyde till hald thare land off fe In Scotland 1482 Acta Aud. 97/2.
The clame of certane barnys parte of gude clamit to pertene the said Margarete a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 533.
Belzebub … will clame To be thyne air 1585 James VI Ess. 39.
I thought me blest, if I might only clame To touche that crown

3. intr. To make a claim. Also const. to, and with that. c1460 Thewis Wysmen 390.
Thai … clamys of kyne to mychty men c1475 Wall. i. 49.
Balȝoune clamyt of fyrst gre lynialy c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxii. 32.
Cunningar men man serve Sanct Cloun, And neuer to vther craftis clame 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 90.
Thir auld carlingis clames That gentill aill is oft the caus of dremes

4. tr. To prefer a claim against (a person). 1456 Peebles B. Rec. 118.
[He] stud vp in the curt and clamyt Wil Peblys of a sartan som of gold and siluer 1513 Dunferm. B. Rec. 190.
He was redy to ansueir to Robert Cowsing for the hors he clamit him of