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

Foumart, Fowmart, n. Also: fulmart, -mert, foulmart, foul(l)mert, fowmert, fwmart. [ME. fulmert, -mart, ful-, folmarde (14th c.), OE. *fúl mearð ‘foul marten’.]

1. The polecat.(a) 1424 Acts II. 6/1.
For x fulmartis skynnis callit fethokis 1535 Stewart 4995.
For till by thair merchandice … For fox and fulmart and of mertrik skin a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 22.
The fulmarte and the fox(b) 1482 Edinb. Chart. 169.
Of a pak of cunyngskynnis, … toddis, foulmertis, and sic like ?1549 Monro W. Isles 29.
Ane iyle callit Ornansay, … full of hairs and foulmarts(c) a1500 Henr. Fab. 899.
The fowmart with the fibert furth can flok 1591-2 Rob Stene 13.
The fowmart, fox, and brok a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 22 (Hart).
The fowmart, and the foxe(d) 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xiii.
The fumart and the fittret straue, The deip and howest hole to haue a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 22 (MS.).
The fumart and the fox

b. As a term of abuse. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 517.
Fowmart, fasert, fostirit in filth and fen a1568 Bann MS. 139 b/4.
Cum furth, fowmart, and face thy flytting Ib. 144 a/31.
Fy on him, fowmart, now is he fled a1605 Montg. Flyt. 62 (T).
Fals, feckles fowlmart [v.r. foul-, foumart], loe heir a defyanceattrib. a1568 Kennedy Bann. MS. 268 a/14.
Now my heid is quhyt and hair, For feding of that fowmart face

2. Foumart skin, used as a fur. 1451 Reg. Great S. 114/1.
Custume … pellium subscriptarum wlgariter dictarum … cunyngskynnis, ottirskynnis, et foumartskynnis 1569 Edinb. Test. I. 289.
Ane tod, ane cat, ane fowmart skyne 1586 Conv. Burghs I. 213.
All maner of customes of … cunningis, calfes, otteris and foumart skynnis 1592 Acts III. 580/2.
Futefaillis, lentrenvare, ... and fwmartskynnis 1596 Edinb. Test. XXIX. 320.
Sevin fowmert skynnis 1610 Brechin Test. II. 53 b.
Fourtie foullmert skins 1611 Edinb. Test. XLVI. 229.
Thrie fwmart skinnis 1645 Ib. LXI. 134.
Certane scheipe skins and fulmert skines 1663 Ib. LXXI. 153.
Thrie fulmert skines