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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quorum, n. Also: qworum, quoram; Corum, Coram. [e.m.E. quorum a select group of justices of the peace (1455), a select company (1602), a quorum (1669), f. L. quōrum gen. pl. masc. of quis who.]

a. A quorum, the fixed number of members of a body whose presence is necessary for the proper or valid transaction of business. b. A (? select) company or gathering.Also with the adjs. full, small, etc., also Jimp(e adj., q.v.a. (1) 1644 Melville Chart. 173.
They, … with ony twa of the vthir tutouris abouenominat to be ane quoram a1650 Row 81. c1650 Spalding II 176.
Albeit thair wes not ane full quorum convenit 1658 Conv. Burghs III 465. a1680 Blair Autob. 107.
For now every bishop, having got up a high commission, with a small quorum of their own creatures, could … fine and confine at their pleasure 1681 Stair Inst. iv i §62. 1682 New Mills Manuf. 36.
Qworum 1690 Melville Corr. 145.
Signing papers that wer in use some tymes to be signed by a quorum(b) 1682 Cramond Kirk S. II 30 Aug.
Appointeing any three of the fornamed persons to be a coram(2) 1669 Edinb. B. Rec. X 69.
This day not ane quorum of the councill 1689 Siege Castle Edinb. 18.
A quorum of the Privy Council(b) 1691 Glasgow Hammermen 68.
And the said George compeiring befor ane corum of the masters did acknowledge his fault(3) a1650 Row 162.
Or four of seven, when that wes the quorum 1653 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 223. 1671 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 9 Oct.
The quorum of the counsell is … aggried to be elevenb. Urquhart Rabelais (1900) i 7.
And thus he railes at drinking all before 'um And for lewd women does be-whore 'um And brings their painted-faces and black patches to th' quorum