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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.

Dames, Dammes, n. Also: dam(e)is, -ese, -est, -ews; dammesse. [Common variant of Damas.]

1. Damask.(a) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 413.
Veluot robbis, … Dames, satyne, begaryit mony wise 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 306.
For xvj elne quhit dames flourit with gold 1506 Ib. III. 252.
For iij quartaris grene dames to breke the hale scarlet hos 1547 Stirling Antiq. IV. 217.
Ane gown of dames begairist with velvat 1556–7 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 71.
The greit stand of dames of the hie alter 1562 Inv. Q. Mary 161.
Twa auld caippis of blew dames a1578 Pitsc. I. 368/6.
Claith of gould, welwete, sataine and dameis 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 115.
Cotis of veluous, damest, or satene 1618 Edinb. Test. L. 164.
Tuentie aucht elnis … counterfute cullorit damews at tuentie schillingis the elne 1645 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 43.
A stand of doubill neprie of dornick and dameis 1676 Red Bk. Grandtully II. 231.
Ane bed, to be of dameis, … or ells of cramasie velueit(b) c 1450 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 195.
Item of red dammes, 1 stand 1489 Acta Conc. 106/2.
A collare of dammes, price ij merkis 1525 Misc. Bann. C. III. 108.
My blak govne of dammes wyth siluer bouttouneis 1538 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 89.
Dowbletts of veloutt, satyne, dammes, or silk 1541 Treas. Acc. VII. 424.
Send to be hir grace ane kirtill ix elnis … quhyte dammes of the grete flour 1585 9th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 193/1.
Ane da of reid dammes frenȝeit with gold

2. Attrib. with bed, boordcloth, curtin, gold, goun, peticot. (Cf. Damas 2.) 1507 Treas. Acc. III. 257.
Tua unce dames gold to the Quene 1592 Edinb. Test. XXIV. 216.
I leif to the said lady Cromartie my dameis blak goun 1633 Stirlings of Keir 448.
Ane greine dames bad 1635 Haddington Corr. II. 299.
Ane long grein dames cushioun 1640 Black Bk. Taymouth 350.
Of dames boordcloathes, and of dornik servitts 1649 Wemyss Chart. 231.
My uilderas satin goun, and my dameis peitikott 1684 Misc. Bann. C. III. 341.
To custom of the damis curtins, vallans, and gold fringes

3. Dames water, damask-rose water. Dames plowm, a damson. 1536 Treas. Acc. VIII. 157.
Item, for dammes vatterris j croun [of the] sone 1568 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 187.
Ȝe sall caus him send me all the dry dames plowmis that he hes