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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quhom, pron. Also: quhom(m)e, qhome, whom(e, uhom, vhome; quhoum, quhowme. [Midl. and south. ME and late ME whom(e (c 1320), quom (1452–3), hom(e (1448–9), e.m.E. whom(e: cf. Quham.]These forms are perh. not due solely to borrowing from midl. and south. Eng.: as in the latter dialects themselves, the phonological history has perh. been complicated by the presence of labial consonants before and after the vowel.Some of the examples may represent editorial expansion of q^m. The personal objective interrog. and relative pron. (but cf. 6 and 7 below) corresp. to Quho, also, sense 6, to Quhat.

1. interrog. = Quham 1.a. c1450-2 Howlat 69 (A).
Quhom [B. Quhame] sall I blame in this breth … ? c1475 Wall. ii 85.
Thow Scot, to quhom takis thow this thing? Ib. vi 133.
Quhom scornys thow? quod Wallace, quha lerd thé? 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 135.
Quhom cal I Pluto … Hark c1590 Fowler I 276/48.
To quhome then shuld I haue recourse, to whome then shuld I flie?b. (1) c1475 Wall. viii 45.
Or ger him grant quhom he haldis for his lord a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xli 24.
That scairslie wait I quhome to reuerence 1691 Annandale Corr. 46.
You hav never mentioned uhom yow think fitt for liftenant governor of Innerlochy(2) a1500 Quare Jel. 418.
Approvit is by … scripture [etc.] … Off quhom this vice, of quhom this gilt is tone c1500-c1512 Dunb. (S.T.S.) xiv 13. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 118/12.
Ve vil mark to quhome thir vordis var spokin 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 23.
And schaw him the hydis … and fra quhome he coft the same … under the pain of confiscatioun of his pack 1621 Black Bk. Taymouth 370. 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 26 May.
Scho hed gewin of theme to swm, bot scho culd nocht remember to quhom, nether ȝit waild scho schaw fra quhome scho hed gottin them c1650-1700 Descr. Zetland 39.
The rest of the kirks & chappels … , by qm they have been built, & upon what occasion, cannot be certainly determined(3) 1574 Edinb. Kirk S. in Misc. Maitl. C. I 99.
Being inquirit to quhome it wes that scho buir the last barne unto

c. With non-personal reference. a1500 Colk. Sow i 124.
I keip nocht now to commoun All beistis for to blasoun Of thair diuers naturis, … Quhom the law levis ete Or quho suld be no manis meit

2. As compound relative pron. = Quham 2.Also quhom that.a. (1) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 2459.
Cheis quhom ȝe think worthiest c1475 Wall. viii 524.
Quhom thai our-tuk, thai maid thar freyndis to wepe Ib. ix 493.
Quhom that thai hyt maid neuir mor debait Ib. viii 846, 848, etc. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6230.
And quhome thay list captiue thai brocht away Ib. 8895.(2) 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 247.
To that fyne … he mycht the erar mak quhom he list of thame twa kingb. (1) ?1438 Alex. ii 3229.
Than callit the duke quhom he sa wald a1500 Rauf C. 505.
He namit na mair thé, Nor ane vther man to me, Bot quhome that I fand 1507–8 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 352.
And shuld present nain therto bot quhom that pleisis the said Mr. Alexander a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 723.
Quhom God will help, na man can hinder(2) 1449 Reg. Great S. 70/2.
Payand thereof yerely … to me or quhom that I assign fourti markis 1588 King Cat. 179.
Rander to euery man his deue, tribut to quhome thow aw tribut [etc.]

3. The simple relative, in a restrictive relative clause. = Quham 3.a. (1) c1500 Barounis Lawis fol. 6.
The party agane quhom the dome is gevin 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 48.
And therfor ilk barn was haldin his son to quhom he was maist lyke in visage c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 44.
And nobill men of quhome I am descendit 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8992. 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La. iii 388a fol. 14a.
He in contrair quhome thay ar producit 1558-66 Knox II 331.
All those in whom haitterent of vice and love of vertew appeired a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxx 45.
Of thame at quhome thai malice haife 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xli 159. 1586 Jurid. Rev. IV 299.
The men against quhoum he now insists 1596 Dalr. II 440/20. 1596 Cal. Sc. P. XII 351.
Leist I suld seime ingraitt towards him unto quhome I am sa far redeuable 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xvii 16.
Death hath subdued wit, vertue, Beutie braue, By conquering hir in q^m those all remain'd(2) 1578 Inverness Rec. I 264.
To do hir lefull bessines or thais bessines … quhom scho hapnis to dwell … wythb. 1513 Doug. xiii x 79 (Sm.).
The goddis quhom thou hynt Of Troye … Thou set alsso within the sammyn wall 1518 Reg. Privy S. I 466/2.
All and sindry oure liegis and subdittis quhome it efferis c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 11. 1521 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. cvii. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 74.
Havand all thame quhom his fader luffit in maist hatrent Ib. 118.
Genissa the Roman lady quhom Aruiragus tuke in place of his lauchfull wyiff … sone eftir decessit 1538 Soc. Ant. II 394.
And desyr thaim to gyf intyll thair servants names quhom thai will answer for 1566–7 Glasgow Prot. IV 124.
Be report of personis quhome he esteimit luffaris of us 1589 Lett. Jas. VI to Bruce 279.
The rest qhome we haive selected c1590 Fowler I 34/209. 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 19.
Nor be na utheris quhom he may stop or lat directlie 1655 Glasgow Chart. II 33.
To all and sundrie quhom it effeires

4. The simple relative, in a descriptive relative clause. = Quham 4, Quhilk 8.Also quhom that.a. (1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 134 (D).
For-why this ilk Anthenor Of quhome [C. whome] we oft-syse spek befor Was bannyst a1500 Quare Jel. 78.
O Dyane … Vnder quhom I haue bot … disese … So helpith me agayn this waryit chaunce Ib. 216. 1513 Doug. i i 49 (Sm.).
For Jupiter ingenerit Dardanus, Fro quhome the Troianis coyme 1533 Gau 88/8.
Bot lat al man lowe … Thé … to quhome al lowine and honour is det 1591–2 Elgin Rec. II 23.
To solempneize … mariage with Mariorye Straquhyn his lemmane and partie with quhome he haldis hous 1596 Dalr. I 131/17.
King Fergus … pacifies the Scottis and Pechtis, betuene quhome afor was continual stryfe(2) 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 187 (Sm.).
Of brokaris … quhow suld I write, Of quhom the filth stinkis in Godis neis?b. (1) c1450-2 Howlat 329 (A).
Marchonis … Nixt dukis in dignite, quhom na dreid deris ?c1500 Rathen Manual 28/2.
Be thai gyffin to Dathinne and Abyron quhomme for thair synne the erde swalut a1500 Rois Garlandis 62.
To the hert of thy sueit sone Jesus … Quhom thow socht thre dais with gret dolour c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) i 5.
The cleir sone quhome no clud devouris … Is cumin of his hevinly touris 1533 Gau 8/7. 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 92. 1549 Compl. 90/31.
Thai hef beene venquist be ȝou diuerse tymes, quhome thai held maist vile and febil 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4033. 1558-66 Knox II 68.
Freir Black … quhom sche … had deprehendit with his harlott in the chapell 1567 G. Ball. 58. 1570 Leslie 150.
The King of Ingland, quhome he had decernit ane heretyque 1571 J. Maitland Sat. P. xxvii 48.
[English forces] schortlie will sitt till our syddis as sair As now the [M. thy] rebellis quhome thay sould reforme 1587-99 Hume 74/204. c1590 Fowler I 308.
Except they now looke nather for thanks nor for courtesie of the deade, quhome of mortal they promesed to mak immortall whils they liued, and vnto quhome they wer and ar yet oblisched c1590 J. Stewart 14/75. 1604 Crim. Trials II 429.
Be ane fellow callit Craik … quhome he send to espy the said Mr. Alexanderis dyet 1613 Aberd. Council Lett. I 119.
We dout not bot ȝour honours will … have that regard unto us quhom he chusit as his speciall freinds(2) 1567 G. Ball. 139.
Quha hes my hart bot heuinnis king … Quhome that I lufe attour all thing

5. The simple relative, in a resumptive relative clause: = Quham 5, Quhilk 9.Also quhom that and the quhom.Of quhom also = quhois.a. (1) a1400 Leg. S. ii 573.
In that towne wes a lele man sted … , To quhowme God sad in visione [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. ii 833 (D).
It happinnit thaim to mete … fals Eneas, To quhome [C. whome] Eccuba in-to wodnes … Said to him with full yrous cher [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 63.
First of ane cok he wrate … quhilk fand ane iolie stone, Of quhome the fabill ȝe sall heir anone 1490 Irland Mir. I 151/35.
Sa the virgin glorius … generit hire sone Jhesus, of quhome is cummyne all oure grace a1500 Quare Jel. 243.
The cruelteis … that lyis In jelousy … , Quhich harmyth all this world by his demyng, Of quhom I think sumthing to deuise c1515 Asl. MS I 311/5.
Eber of quhom come Ebrey and the name of the langage Hebrewe 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 317.
Ane hart transformit ran fast by the tree With houndis rent, on quhome Diane was wrokin Id. Æn. vi ix 171.
And tha that, only setting all thar thocht Apon thar ryches … nor na man gave, Of quhom ȝondir beyn ane ful huge rowt 1531 Bell. Boece I 103. 1535 Stewart 18639.
To quhome the Britis follilie gaif feild c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 269.
And all is till hir nobill name auance, In contrair quhome of quhat stait or degre Thay may be found I byid heir at constance 1551 Hamilton Cat. 170.
Coheretouris of Christ, to quhom be all louing and thankis [etc.] a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 116/6.
This is my beluffit son, in quhome I am veil complesit Ib. 137/21. Id. Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 151/19.
To gidder with the deliberatioun … of the maist … notable generale consellis quhilkis evir hes beyn … to quhom it appertenis … to tak ordour towart [etc.] Ib. 160/7, etc. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 256.
Capitane James Halkerstoun … past furth raschlie … for quhome the vther enemies in Leith had lyin at wait the nycht preceiding … and sua the said capitane wes takin 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 47.
Quhilk I have … deliverit to Williame Makartnay as ye desyrit, fra quhome I have ressavit your silver c1590 Fowler I 105/43.
Whome 1597–8 Misc. Spald. C. I 119.
Thow begud to have carnall deall with … the Quene of Elphen, on quhom thow begat dyveris bairnis, quhom thow hes sene sensyn a1605 Montg. Sonn. xxxii 3.
Vhome(2) a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 146/26.
Be Jesus Christ our saluiour, to the quhome … be pryise honor and glore for euer and euer(3) 1559–60 A. Bothwell in M. Napier Mem. J. Napier 66.
That sic trubles … ar … the evident taikinge of Goddis … luif toward you; quhome as he has beyne protectour, guvernour and defender of in tymes passit, sua dout not bot he will be in tymes cuming(4) a1500 Henr. Fab. 35.
Bot be requeist … of ane lord, Of quhome the name it neidis not record 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 788.
Ane heuinlie rout out throw the wod escheuit Of quhome the bountie gif I not deny [etc.]b. (1) c1450-2 Howlat 869 (A).
Quhar throw dame Natur … discendit … , Quhom thai ressaif with reuerens 1513 Doug. vi vii 58.
Amang otheris the Phenyssyane Dido [etc.] … , Quhom [v.rr. Quham] as the Troiane barroun nerrer drew … The terys leyt he fall c1515 Asl. MS I 189/13.
Discendand … till oure souerane lord James the fyft … quhom almychti God conserf Ib. 193/23. c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 12.
The fredome of thame that followis Christe. Quhomme thai accusit to haue the devill within him 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I xxxvi.
We commend us to your lordschip … quhom pleis wit, we haue seen ane writin send be your lordschip [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece I 53.
This history … is colleckit out of Veremond [etc.] … , quhom we have determit to follow 1560 Rolland Seven S. 379. 1567 Sat. P. iii 119. c1590 J. Stewart 245 §182. 1596 Dalr. I 308/21.
Of thir was Paternus Mounk … quhome wicked personis inviet sa sair, that [etc.] Ib. 14/12. 1629 Hossack Kirkwall 256.
The devile appeirit to you, quhom ye callit Walliman, claid in quhyt cloathis [etc.] 1645 in Row xxx.
Otheris had gon out befor, quhom we thocht now to be slain and dead(2) 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 95.
Because the kyng had in his handis The rewle of hunders and thousandis, Quhome that he sufferit … To tyne and perysche

6. With non-personal antecedent. = Quham 6.a. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 156 (L).
This wyldernes … In quhom [E. quhome] na thing wes nature confortand Was dyrk as [etc.] Ib. 146 (E). 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 82.
One papyngo … Of quhome his grace one lang tyme had delyte 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 169.
With mony haly reliquies, amang quhom was the blak croce Ib. 260. 1535 Stewart 30182.
He changit syne into ane vther man, And left the way in quhome he first began c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2313.
All thir [images] on altare staitly standis, … To quhome we communnis … Doith wyrschip all thir ymagereis c1568 Lauder Minor P. iii 64. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 123.
Thai forgadderit with certane schippis … in quhome wes Dauid Witter and Adame Blacader pirrattisb. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 101 (E).
My febill wit I wary, My desie heid quhome laik of brane gart vary 1596 Dalr. I 36/1.
Beiring nathing bot ane pure and smal grase, quhome al almaist thinkes to be mosse

7. Irregularly, as the subject of the relative clause, descriptive and resumptive (cf. 4 and 5 above). 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 58.
As knawis God quhom haif your grace in kepeyn 1544 Ib. 113. 1654 Galloway P. 11 May.
James Ree … subscribes for Thomas M^cCrere elder quhome cannot wryt

8. As the obj. of an immediately following prep. = Quham 7.Also Quhom-of etc.a. c1420 Ratis R. 210.
To tak kep … Quhat that we spek, … Quham of syne quhome til thai are a1500 Henr. Fab. 115.
Leuand this iowell law vpon the ground … this cok his wayis went. Bot quhen or how or quhome be it wes found … I set to hald na argument a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 25.
Dirtin Dumbar, quhome on blawis thow thy boist? c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) xlv 1.
Complane I wald wist I quhome till Or unto quhome darett my bill a1568 Scott xxiii 42.
Tak heid Quhomefor thow suffer pane a1568 Bann. MS 65b/13.
Lat lawty syne and falset gyddit: Quhome on will moniest depend? 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 174/32.
In favouris off thais quhilkis ar vnlearnit to mak manifest quhom be the oratiouns … ar institute 1568–9 Inverness Rec. I 173.
Being incertan quhom at to craiff 1582–3 St. A. Kirk S. 493.
Inquirit … quhome fra sche ressavit the said barne 1587-99 Hume 61/297.
They knew not whome on to reuengeb. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 3578.
Adew my lufe adew quhome for I dec. a1400 Leg. S. l 933.
Fra oure goddis … Quhome one thu suld mast honour se ?1507 Aberd. B. Rec. I xxxix.
Certefeing … the … tennentis of the landis, quhom befoir the said myddingis lyis, that [etc.] a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 463.
Man, be thou kind, quhom for this pane he dreis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) xvii 62.
I haif a luve farar of face, Quhome in no denger may haif place 1513 Doug. vi vi 73.
Cerberus … Quhom till [v.rr. Quham til] the prophete … A sop … gan cast 1535 Stewart 4860.
To fecht with thame quhome fra befoir tha fled 1549 Lamb Resonyng 157/7.
Bot gife it be Marian … quhombe ȝour buik pruffis all the homagis maid sen the ix^c ȝeir of Christ 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 511.
Quhomefra 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 6.
The men … whomeinto I maist put my grittest confidence a1578 Pitsc. I 107/27.
The landis of the castell of Crafurd quhome throw our earledome is sa nameit 1586 Cal. Sc. P. IX 103.
As ane quhomin I have a special trust c1590 J. Stewart 144 §7.
Gif hich ingyns be curius for to knaw The persons both quhombie my pen dois meine 1592 Reg. Privy C. V 2.
To preiff that the personis quhomeaganis the said decrete wes obtenit wer … responsall [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 267/3.
Quhomfra 1606 Highland P. III 87.
My Lord Bischop of the Iyles, quhome-by I haif gewin credeit [etc.]