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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dam, Dame, n.1 Also: damm(e, damne, damb; daime. [ME. dam (a 1340), dame (c 1440), = OFris. dam, MDu. and MLG. dam, damm-. The common form dame is difficult to account for.]

1. A dam, esp. for a mill. Cf. Miln-dam.(a) a 1300 Liber Calchou 86 (see dam-dike below). 1427 Wemyss Chart. 53 (see Miln-dam). 1466 Reg. Dunferm. 357.
To cass, adnulle, and cast doun the said dammis and drauchtis
1482 Peebles B. Rec. 191.
Gif it happynnis … that the dam brek owt, … to mend the dam agan
1497 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 70.
The vphalding of the mylnis and dammys and the vther thingis thairof
c1500-c1512 Dunb. lii. 15.
I wald scho drownit war in a dam
1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 40.
Droucht had drunkyn vp his dam in the dry ȝeir
1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 264.
For ane pece tre that lyis a quhort the dam
1577 Crown Chart. MS. (Reg. H.).
Thair medow in the Langcroft to be the dam for the space of sevin ȝeiris
1596 Dalr. I. 51/19.
Ouer a stay bank or hich fal of water maid in a damm
1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 596.
He [and others] … pryssed and rave up the clouse of the damme
1645 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 110.
For 4 crampitts to the spoutt of the damb
1686 Fraser P. 160.
Sir Alexander declaired he was greatlie damnified … be the said damme, it causeing the watter to rune whollie upon his propertie
(b) 1446 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 107.
[The tenant ought] to red the dame as othiris that ar thirlit to the said myl
1466 Reg. Dunferm. 356.
I giff … full leiffe … to mak land stell and dame forganis my said landis
1500 Carnegie Lett. 523.
To put in the dame of the said mylne in our said wattir, thar beand ane sufficient goyll in the said dame for passagis of fische to … and fra the sey
1554 Glasgow Chart. II. 513.
Archibalde salbe wod fre and querell fre to the bigging of the saidis mylne and hir dame
1579 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 74 b.
The said Mr Wm. Cok … haweand licence and rycht … to the dame … and land staill thairof
1596 Dalr. I. 43/2.
The fische esilie cumis in ouer the damis and furdes
1621 Urie Baron Ct. 38.
To cast the laids, fens the damis, and bring watter to the milne
1653 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 265.
The towne … to vphald the dame and to put the said mylne in a guid frame
1671 Stirling Comm. Good MS. 74.
5 long cutts of daills … to the borrow milne clous within the dame

2. Attrib. and comb. with daill (Dale n.2 2), dike, fald, grene, redding, sched, side, silver, stone. Also Dam-hede. 1498 Peebles B. Rec. 198.
The maillis of the new hows and of the dame-daill
a 1300 Liber Calchou 86.
Per uiam illam sursum vsque ad Damdike, et de Damdhic [etc.]
1577 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 38.
In all common lonis na persoun to be stoppit … to pas to the plewis langis the dame dyk to thair awin landis
1676 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 570.
He … having built ane dame dyke crose the said water
1538 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 18.
Begynand at the dam fald of the ald mil
1599 Reg. Great S. 284/2.
Lie mylnedame cum lie damgrenis adjacentibus
1446 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 107.
I haf pait my part to the said myll hous makyng and dame reddyng
1540 Acts II. 379/2.
All and sindry the landis of Estire Wischart … with … the den of Logy, dam and damsched tharof
1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 94.
Our corne myll … with the kill standand vpoun the dam syde
1566 Reg. Great S. 25/1.
Lie coirne mylne de Kylwinning … cum … lie damme-silver et knaifschip
1683 Decis. Lords F. 47.
The affixing of the damm-stone upon the commonty

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"Dam n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/dam_n_1>

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