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 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Lamber, -bre, -bor, n. [ME. (chiefly north.) and e.m.E. lambre (a 1387), laumb(e)re, lambur, OF. (and OProv.) lambre ambergris, amber (cf. med. Lat. lambra), Port., Catal. alambre, Port., Span. alambar, Arab. al anbar. A more common Sc. form is Lammer. After c 1600 chiefly Sc. Cf. Amber.]

Amber. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 531 (Ch).
Welcum to me, thow sweiter nor the lamber c 1639 Scot. Ant. III. 132.
Among the rocks [of Thule] grows the delectable lambre called succinum

b. Attrib. with beid, box, bracelet, neckla(i)ce, and spoon. 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 307.
Halie water, and the lamber beidis, Flyntworthe, … Whairthrough the charming tuik sic force 1581-1623 James VI Poems 117/33.
This Cupide hidd that maries yett … The lamber beade with stra or caffe 1655 Wemyss Chart. 242.
I leave her … some lamber beeds that is prettie bigg — 1649 Edinb. Test. LXIV. 256 b.
Ane pair of whyt lamber bracelets — 1693 Ib. LXXX. 31.
Ane gold ring & cutt lamber necklaice 1698 Foulis Acc. Bk. 239.
For a lambor necklace to Jonie and Marion Glass 2: 18: 0 — 1683 Inventory in Donibristle Mun. (Earl of Moray's MSS.) 9–10 May. 20.
Four litle lamber boxes and ane lamber spoon which is broke