A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Soum, Sowm, Som, v.2 [Soum n.2] a. To examine (a piece of land), with a view to ascertaining how many ‘soums’ or units of grazing animals it can sustain. b. To divide or allot (land) into ‘soums’. Also, to soum and roum, to perform both the above activities. Cf. Roum v.3a., b. 1472 Peebles B. Rec. I 168.
The nychburis gaf thair lection and decretyt to kep Kadmowr to kow and kapyll and the sayd hyll to be somyt 1472 Peebles B. Rec. I 168.
Apon the sayd Wedynisday cumand fra the sayd hill the nychburis chessyt xxiiij personis to mak gouernans and statutis and to som the sayd hill 1472 Peebles B. Rec. I 168 (see Soum n.2 2 (1) (b)). 1579–80 Prestwick B. Rec. 78.
The wtinland to be sowmit be gersing 1647 Peebles Gleanings 294 (see Roum v.3). 1655 Rothesay B. Rec. 256.
Thairfoir it is statute and ordaynit that the haill gers of the towne be soumit 1679 Stair Decis. II 679.
Where divers heritors have a common pasturage in one commontie, no part whereof is ever plowed, the said common pasturage may be soumed and roumed 1691 Corshill Baron Ct. 186 (see Soum n.2 1 (1)(c)).
