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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.

Roum-fre, Rowm(e)-fre, adj. Also: roume-, rum-, rom-, roim-, rowms- and -frie; -free. [North. ME rumfre (appar. only 1279 and a1300); Roum n. 11 and Fre adj.] Not incurring the payment levied on corn for occupying space in a mill while awaiting grinding; exempt from charges for accommodation, see Roum n. 11.(a) c1170 Liber Dryburgh 90.
Concedo predictum et heredes suos rumfre post bladum meum 11.. Reg. Dunferm. 191.
In molendinis autem nostris sui et heredibus suis illam libertatem que anglice runtfre [? erron. for rumfre] appellatur concedimus ?12.. Liber Melros 680.
Si autem dicti monachi de Melros bladum suum quod super dictam terram creuerit ad molendinum meum … molere voluerint erunt quieti de multura et rumfre post bladum meum 14.. (c1750) Ayrshire Transcripts (Blairs College Lib.) MS.
Ad molendina mea de Torbolton multerfre et rinnfre [sic for rumfre] proximius blado meo(b) 1323 Blackfriars Perth 15.
Carta Domini Roberti Bruce, Scotorum Regis, de multura non præstanda et ly roume-fre molendi ad sua molendina de Pertht [etc.] 1324 Ib. 17.
Roum-fre c1354 Liber Calchou 382.
Et molent roumfre ad molendinum de Maxwel 1371 Reg. Great S. 134/1.
Blada vero dictorum capellanorum molentur in molendino meo roumfre 1484–5 Peebles Chart. 31.
We find at the cornes of Corscunnyngfeld aucht to be rowme free in the myln of Peblis to the fourti corne 1522–3 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 216.
Quhair ony maister takis multer quheit he sall grynd the said multer quheit becaus it is rowme fre 1538 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 23 Jan.
Gyff the inhabitars bryngs thair said aittis to owr millis, we will that thair be roume fre 1539 Renfrew Arch. Coll. I 185.
And our cornis … to be ground at our said myll rowms fre multure fre and knafschip fre 1557 (1586) Reg. Great S. 357/2.
Reservando dicto monasterio primum locum molendini lie rowmefrie 1562 Liber Dryburgh 302.
Et eciam lie rowm free molere prout vsus fuit temporibus retroactis 1643 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 146.
Of all uther cornes quhilkes he shall have for his hous quhilkes he sall happin buy, he being roumfrie and paying als easie dewtie as uther men in the countrey(c) c1354 Liber Calchou 392.
Romfre(d) 1550 Peebles B. Rec. I 202.
The cornis of Corscunnefeild and Kattorsane ar thirlit to multour the xl corn to the mylnis of Peblis and roim fre