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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.

Clem(e, v. Also: cleym, cleime. [ME. cleme (14th c.), rare variant of cleime, claime: see Clayme v. and Clame v.]

1. tr. To claim, lay claim to. 1375 Barb. i. 421.
‘Quhat landis clemys he?’ said the king Ib. 423.
He clemys the lordschip off Douglas 1446 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 248.
The land that Forbes clemys [as] his of Tirepressy is called Lurgyndaspok Ib. 249.
That land … that Forbes clemys c1475 Wall. x. 460.
I cleym no rycht, bot wald this land defend 1483 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 608.
The accioun … anent the some of twa thousand merkis clemyt be the said Margret to be aucht to hir 1492 Dunferm. B. Rec. 40.
In al actionis mowit betuix thaim as anentis … al othir debatis clemyt be athir of the partis 1494 Ib. 52.
Andro Yowngar … mayde Archybalde Stewart procatur to cleym xiiij s. fra Ihon Ihonsone 1527 Carnwath Baron Ct. 32.
To the inqueist Moris Fyschar … for manwring of the land clemit be Hew Elder 1540 Elgin Rec. I. 53.
In ane matter twyching ane gray hors clemit be William Gaderar … fra Andro Mill 1556 Inverness B. Rec. I. 1.
The procuratouris … affermit the forsayd bot [= boat] clemit at Hendre Kar … in the sayd James possession 1596 Dalr. I. 300/1.
Grim, … greidie of authoritie, cleimes rycht to the kingdome

2. intr. To lay claim; to make a claim. 1375 Barb. i. 417.
This child, that clemys ȝour man to be 1385 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 410.
That thai apere … to schaw … throw qwat chartir or ewydens thai halde or clemys to hald the landys … of Lytiltone c1475 Wall. viii. 1330.
Throuch ii [= twa] clemyt, thar hapnyt gret debait a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 533.
Belzebub … will clame [read cleme: eme, leme] To be thyne air 15.. Sym & Br. 77.
I cleme to clergy, q(uod) the cavell 1607 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 261.
To mak the foirsaidis dalis furthcumand to the said towne quhenevir it sall clem to ask and crave the saidis dalis