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

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

Lammes, n. Also: lam(m)es(s, -is, -ys, -ies, -as(e, -ous, law(e)mess, -mice. [ME. and e.m.E. lam(m)es(s)e, -es(s, -as(se, OE. hlámmesse, -mæsse, varr. of hláfmæsse (f. hláf bread, loaf). Cf. Lambes and Lambmes.]

1. Lammas: August 1st, one of the term-days or quarter-days.(a) 1398 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 37.
[He] sal giff … at the fest of Saynt Petir that is callit Lammes … ten pund 1423 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 259.
Lames 1468 Acts II. 92/1.
This preuilege till endur … quhill the feste of Lammes next tocum 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 69.
[Sept.] Giffin … to the payment of the College of this terme of Lammes bipast lxij li. 1506 Ib. III. 324.
Pensiones … feis of the terme of Lammes 1520 Wemyss Chart. 144.
The quhilk fest of Lammes salbe the entre of the said Dauid 1547 Dunferm. B. Rec. 368.
Thai ordand Villeme Vilsone to decist fra occuping of the fredome bot thai wil our se hym quhill Lammes 1563 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 174.
Of euerye fyre hous … salbe vplift … foure schillingis … yeirlie at Candylmes and Lammes 1609 Inverurie 193.
Ane threid at Midsymer, ane threid at Lames, and the last threid at Ȝewilday 1654–5 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 531.
To … ane of the doctours of the said scole for the terms of Candlmes and Lames(b) 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II. 372.
The Mertymes terme male efter his entre quhilk was at the feist of Lammys 1652 Lamont Diary 45.
The blowms of the pease wallowed a fourtnight before Lammis, wheras some years they continowe till Michelmisse 1657 Ib. 102.
This yeare, after Lammis, ther was few or none hearing gotten 1675 Galloway P. 16 June.
350 merks … at Lamies & Candlemes(c) 1474–5 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II. 332.
To be pait be Lammas next folowand a1578 Pitsc. II. 206/9.
All this ȝeir fra Pace Monunday to Lammas thair was ane gret drouthe 1650 Brechin Presb. 49.
[She said] if the work goe on, the town would not be ride whill Lammas 1696 Conv. Burghs IV. 209.
The other fourth pairt thereof to be payed betuixt and Lamas(d) c 1563 Reg. Panmure I. xxxiii.
Retornit agane the next ȝeir, … about the Lawmess 1659 Sc. Ant. V. 81.
That no mercet … at Whitsunday, Lawemice or Halloaday be any more keepit in the kirkyeard of Dunblaine

2. Attrib.: Occurring or due at Lammas. b. Lammes vynde (= wind), the name of a dance.(1) 1541 Treas. Acc. VII. 482.
Gevin to Jakkis that playis upoun the veolis … for thair Lammes terme last bipast 1582 Old Ross-shire I. 19.
Twenty ane merkis … for … the teindis … of the Paische and Lammes termes of the crope 1586 St. A. Test. II. 61 b.
For the Lammes and Alhallow termes of his dewite of the clerkschip 1607 Glasgow Trades House 12.
John Stirling dekin of the last Lamase quarter 1633 Johnston Diary (1911) I. 232.
Til the Lamous vacans(2) 1602 Glasgow Weavers 115.
The … haill craft convenit at thair Lammase court(3) 1546 Reg. Privy C. I. 51.
[He] sall caus … hir … be … payit of the Lamess dett 1682 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II. 192 (8 June).
[Payment of … 2] fastrenevens [hens and 6] Lamess foulesb. 1549 Compl. 66/22.
Thai dancit … , the speyde, the flail, the Lammes vynde, Soutra, [etc.]