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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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, n.² [ME. dam (c 1300), damme, variant of dame Dame n.]

1. A dame or lady. ?1438 Alex. ii. 2319.
‘Dam’, said the king, ‘sa God me rede [etc.]’ Ib. 2514. 1540 Treas. Acc. VII. 282.
To twa officiaris of armes that passit in Angus, … and uther partis to warne the dammes to cum to the coronatioun 1565 Ib. XI. 357.
To the dammes, damosellis, officeris, and xxiiij pure virginis ij elnis … of cammorage a1568 Scott v. 51.
In May gois dammosalis and dammis In gardyngis grene to play lyk lammis c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii. 57.
The dayntie dammis may nocht sustene The faithfull for to fyle thair flure 1611-57 Mure Dido iii. 391.
Her dams attending see their mistris fall On piercing sword

b. Used as a title with the personal name. 1385 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. 410/1.
Sir Thomas the Hay, … and Dam Ionet, his spouse 1437 Reg. Panmure II. 230.
Dam Iehan Berclay … was ful systir til the last scher Dauid Berclay c1420 Ratis R. 1043.
Luk nocht hire browis oft betwen, Quhill thow have at Dam Reson ben 1490 Irland Mir. I. 112/27.
My scisteris, dame Verite & dam Equite 1492 Acta Conc. 221/1.
William Wallace and Dam Marioune Liddale his spous 1502 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 642.
That the sadis landis … vas in the handis of dam Ionet Denniston be resson of coniunct fee 1624 Rep. Milne Home MSS. 89.
Dam Julian Ker, Cuntese of Munrese

2. A female parent; a mother. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 152.
Thy lymmerfull luke wald fle thame and thair dammis 1513 Doug. ix. ii. 65.
Tharin bletand the lammys Full sovirly liggis vnder thar dammys Ib. xii. Prol. 84. 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 152.
Kiddis with thair dammis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3550.
Thow art the Deuillis dam 1567 G. Ball. 175.
Of ȝung and tender lambis, … The ȝung anis with thair dammis