Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Balme, Baume, n. Also: bawme, beaulme. [e.m.E. balme, baulme, ME. bawm(e, baum(e, OF. baume, bausme, L. balsamum.] Balm (the substance or plant). Also fig.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 988 (the baume that is in the crage); xxxii. 738 (baume); l. 988 (his cors enointit with bawme).(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxiv. 555 (of balme & aromatykis). 1456 Hay II. 144/4 (suete balmes or othir unguementis). a1500 Henr. III. 173/41 (the balme of Iustice). 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 81 (twa glassis with balme). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 141/14 (the wyne treis and balme). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 15 (all in balme did branch and levis fleit); lxxiv. 26 (no balme nor tryacle). 1562-3 Winȝet II. 59/22 (the graiwis of cannal and balme). a1568 Scott vii. 29 (the fragrant balme suaif). 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 252 (chrisme, whilk is composit of beaulme … ).attrib. 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. Pref. 24 (in rottin bosses no balme liquor lyes). 1603 Haddington Corr. 211 (scho hath gottin sum balme watter). 1673 Leith Customs 44.
2 groce of balme glases