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 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Stomak, Stomach, Stomok, n. Also: stommak, stomake, stomac, stomack(e, sthomack, stomage, stomaghe, stommok, stomoke, stomock, stomoch, stoamock, stomeg, stomo, stammok. [ME and e.m.E. stomak (14th c.), stomake (Lydgate), stomacke (1513), stomache (1578), stomach (1607), OF estomaqe, stomac (11th c. and c1220 in Larousse), L. stomachus f. the Gk. (= orifice, opening).]

1. The stomach as an organ for digesting food, etc. Also in fig. context. Also comb.(a) 1375 Barb. iii 542.
Thai … soucht na nother sals thar-till Bot appetyt … For rycht weill scowryt war thar stomakys 1456 Hay II 119/15, 17.
Be caus syk mennis stomakys ar hate and moyste, starke metis and dryand war gaynand maist for thame, for the stomac that is rycht mekle of hete is comperit till a grete fyre [etc.] c1460 Dietary 70, 72.
And salt met doith gret oppressioune To febill stomokis … Of gredy handis the stomok has gret peyne a1500 Henr. Fab. 95 (Bann.).
Corne, or drafe … or [s]naillis, Or ony meit wald do my stomok gude a1500 Henr. Fab. 220 (Asl.).
Stomoke a1500 K. Hart 915.
This rottin stomak that I beir aboute Ȝe rug it out and reik it to him syne 1525 St. A. Formulare I 269.
I curse … thare stomokis … thare waymes 1533 Boece 329b.
He accustumyt with grete vile vomitis exoner his stomok 1535 Stewart 29345.
Ane ȝoung stomack … Of grois meittis it ma tak skayth and harme 1549 Compl. 67/10.
I sau … ennetseidis that consumis the ventositeis of the stomac 1549 Compl. 80/34.
Thai mixtions he eit euyrie daye vitht ane fastan stomak 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 24.
Obseruand alwayis, that quha hes abundance of flewme in the stomak, to purge the samyn be vomiting 1558-66 Knox I 265.
The Lord James … had (by all appearance) lyked of the same bust that dispatched the rest, for thareof to this day his stomack doeth testifie c1580 Q. Mary in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. VIII 9.
I had me self a great siknes … indigestion off stomak in his ȝeres c1580-90 Rules of Health 6.
Stomake 1598 Crim. Trials II 66.
Stommok 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 12.
I think the stomack of a latter-meate-man, and the stomack of a dog must be very like of disgesture … for they without vse of their teeth swallows all 1661 Hist. Carnegies 350.
Ther cam a great fanting to my stomoke, and all this tym I haue had a great paine 1680 Laing MSS 423.
Stomock 16… Fraser in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 218.
Many gouid springs are in this Ill and one remarkable to be gouid for persons … that hes weak stoamocks(b) 1624 Perth Kirk S. MS 3 May.
Being beastlie full befoir his cummyng to thair hous he wnladinit his stomoch maist filthylie 1682 Lauder Observes IV 308.
His stomoch did stand at it, in sensu univoco, yet might easily digest it in sensu aequivocofig. c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 183.
Thus to be forced to bov his neck … to the yock of obedience vas … so onsaworie a morsell as it could not go doune without loathing and abhorssione of the stomack evin to the casting up … of lawfull obedience to his princecomb. a1680 Blair Autob. 108.
I was urged to take some stomach water, which … proved effectual for my health

b. In fig. context, expressing attitudes or emotions by way of physical sensations, chiefly nausea. Cf. 6 below. See also Stand v. 33 e. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 552.
On him to luk thair stomok sair it stoundis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 163.
A roust that is sa rankild quhill risis my stomok 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 44.
Quhais stomach turnit at the sicht of him, quha is suddanely takin with pangis at his presence

2. The part of the body containing the stomach, the belly, abdomen. a1400 Leg. S. x 488.
[He] tuk a scharpe knyf but delay, & … Hyme-selfe into the stomak strak 1456 Hay II 124/12.
Tak ane of the maist faire maidinis that thou may get and hald als nere thy stomak as thou may brace hir all hate 1513 Doug. ix xi 76.
The fleand schaft … The stomok persyt c1500 Makc. MS xiv 58.
Heid, feit, stomok preserf euir fra cald 1588 Crim. Trials I ii 164.
[To] mak ane saw and rub it on his cheikis, his craig, his breist, stommak and sydis

3. A stomacher, an ornamental covering for the chest worn by women or waistcoat worn by men. See also Stommager n.(a) 1473 Treas. Acc. I 74.
Veluous to my lady for hir stomokis 1474 Treas. Acc. I 38.
For armyng to lyne a stomok to the quene 1488 Treas. Acc. I 80.
In the same box, a stomok and on it set a hert all of precious stanis 1490 Treas. Acc. I 143.
Stomokis to the king c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 154/131.
With mony lymmar loun Off seme byttaris … Of stomok steillaris and clayth takkaris 1548–9 Treas. Acc. IX 279.
Thre quarteris of quhite birge sating to be ane stomak under hir rob ryall 1558 Aberd. B. Rec. I 309. 1561 Inv. Wardrobe 131.
Stomach 1583 Edinb. Test. XII 52.
Ane stommok of crammosie veluot(b) 1540 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS XIII 83.
Tua stammokis of crammesy velvot … ane vther stammok of siluer 1590 Treas. Acc. MS 198.
Quhyte Spanes taffetie to furneis out the rest of the lynning & stammok thairto [sc. the queen's robe](c) 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII 303.
Fywe old silk stomages 16… Bk. Dunvegan I 197.
[Ladies' Dress] Stays … stokings, silk … stomaghe [£2 Scots](d) 1505 Treas. Acc. III 100.
For making of hir goun and kirtill, ij pair hos, ane collar of wellus, and ane stomo of wellus vij s. viij d. 1506 Treas. Acc. III 264.
Satin crammesy to be ane stomo for the quene 1506 Treas. Acc. III 313.
xv goldin skinnis to stomois for thaimfig. a1568 Bann. MS 228b/32.
Hir kirtill suld be of compacience … Hir stomok of stedfastnes

b. A chest covering for a horse. 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 22.
For vj quartaris quhit dames to be foure stomois for hors housouris

4. Appetite (for food). 1675 Stirlings of Keir 507.
That your helth and stomach is returned is good news to me

5. fig. Desire, inclination, wish. 1513 Doug. xiii vi 76.
Agane his stomak eyk, I bair on hand, Owtragyusly the contract is ybrokkyn

6. The stomach viewed as the seat of consciousness, feelings, emotions, etc. Cf. Brest(e n. 1 b, Hert n.¹ 2 and Mind n. 2.(a) 1596 Dalr. I 138/5.
The invie now at last brekis out of the Britonis quhilke lang thay keipit vpon thayr stommok [L. visceribus] 1596 Dalr. I 219/20.
How sone the kingis justice thay hard obiected to thame, thair stommokis [L. pectora] with feir maid sa repleit, that thay thocht thay in Scotland, in na place culde be sure 1596 Dalr. I 221/21.
Feiring to collecte of the rumour of this vane glore, sum stommok of pride a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxvii 3.
Ressave this harte, vhois constancie wes sik … I wot ȝe never kneu A harte more treu within a stomok stik(b) 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (STS) 401.
Thay tuke … Walter Mill, and cruellie brint him: althocht fra that fyre rais sic ane stew, quhilk struke sic sturt to thair stomokis, that thay rewit it euer efter

7. Temper, disposition; mind, spirit. Freq. with qualifying term. Also personified. 1570 Leslie 166.
[King James V was] of a princely stomacke and hiech courage in greit perillis a1570-86 Maitl. F. 422/104.
Thair hardie hartis hautie and heroic … wald newir fald Bot stormis withstuid with stomak stout and stoi(c) c1578 Reid Swire 100.
I trow he was not half sae stout But anis his stomack was asteir a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 504 (Wr.).
Such gets ay, as sets ay, Stout stomackes to the brae c1590 J. Stewart 225 § 101.
Stronglie stand vith stabill sthomack stout 1592 Haigh Mining P. x 5 Feb.
Ane ȝoung cursour hors … of guid schape stomoke and fawour 1596 Dalr. I 156/28.
The kingdom selfe he sett at libertie, for the nobilitie of that king and stommok sa stout 1596 Dalr. II 417/19.
Thaireftir lat al man thairfor beleiue rather al thing of him, than that he suld incur that vngrate stommok as was obiected 1596 Dalr. II 460/2.
With a blyth stomok 1603 Philotus 412.
Bot I sall mak thy curage cuill, For all thy stomack stout a1605 Montg. Sonn. xvi 3.
I haif a stomok … To suffer smart, bot not to suffer shame a1605 Montg. Devot. P. iv 57.
Stoup, stubborne stomock, that hes bene so stoutpersonified 1542 Misc. Bann. C. I 17.
Your excellent Maiestie whom all honest stomakes in Scotland, … shulde, with all ther hartis, loue

8. a. Malice, ill-will, spite. b. Courage.a. 1566 Knox IV 361.
And for her sake gathering choler and stomake against all women 1596 Dalr. I 161/18.
Quhen his haitred and inuie war sa starke that with al this nobil blude he culde nocht stanche his stommokb. 1582 Cal. Sc. P. VI 147.
[There is little to be looked for … to be good for our cause for all the devices are] peirisit [for fault of wisdom and] stomeg