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

Blame, v. Also: blam, blaim, blaym(e, bleme. [ME. blam, blame, blamen (c 1200), OF. blamer, blasmer (late L. blasphēmāre).]

1. tr. To blame, find fault with, censure, reprove. 1375 Barb. xii. 90.
The lordis … Blamyt him … gretly c1420 Wynt. iv. 871.
Me thynk yhe ar to blame 1456 Hay I. 160/24.
Quhy than suld thai be blamyt tharfore? Ib. II. 17/33.
Than ar the governouris … to blame c1475 Wall. iii. 239.
Blamand thar sory chance Ib. xi. 1432.
Blaym nocht the buk, set I be wnperfyt 1513 Doug. ii. x. 77.
Parys, quhilk alswa Is blamyt oft 15.. Sym & Bruder 92.
He … said, Blame me bot I bind him c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3827.
I wer to blame [: Jerusalem] 1562-3 Winȝet II. 78/26.
As sum men heir blaymes ȝour townes 1611-57 Mure I. 15/11.
Causles is sche blamid 1630 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 264.
That, quhairof ye do bleme your father unjustly

2. To charge with something. c1420 Wynt. v. 2881.
Quha-ewyr wyth heresy wald blame Cryst, or set on hym defame 14.. Acts I. 380/2.
All tha that ar arettit or blamet with the chef capital crimes