A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1570, 1633
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Grume, n. Also: grwme, grum. [Variant spelling of Grome n.]
1. A man, in various contextual applications. = Grome n. 1. Chiefly in verse. a1500 Henr. III. 114/21.
No grume on ground my gardone may degraid a1500 Golagros and Gawane 8.
Thai walit out werryouris … The gayest grumys on grund a1500 Ib. 105.
Thair vith the grume … , leit gird to schir Kay 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 173.
I … maist like ane elriche grume [etc.] 1513 Id. Æn. viii. Prol. 168 (Sm.).
As I grunchit at this grum [B. grome, R. grume] 1535 Stewart 4751.
Thai grwmis gay … Arrayit than fraklie for the feild 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 67/27.
I sau mony landuart grumis pas to the corne land to laubir there rustical ocupatione a1568 Scott v. 15.
In May gois gentill wemen … , In gardynnis grene thair grumis to glaid 1570 Satirical Poems xviii. 10.
He … schew his grace to sic ane graceles grume 1570 Ib. xxii. 5.
A gylefull grume all gude men to dispatche
2. A man-servant, an attendant.Chiefly as the designation of certain officers of the royal household. Also, contextually, a groom. 1511 Treasurer's Accounts IV. 262.
Item, to ane grume of the stabulez of Falkland 1529 Reg. Privy S. II. 38/2.
Makand him ane grume in our soverane lordis chalmir and cors-bowman 1538 Treasurer's Accounts VII. 91.
To be cottis to the viij grumys that keipis the grete hors 1541 Ib. 476.
William Bell, grume in the lardnar, Kellis, grume for the veschell … , Williame Galbraytht, grume of the kecheing dur [etc.] 1568 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 249.
William Leich, ane of the grumeis of his graceis chalmer 1633 Acts V. 123/1.
James Livingstoun, grwme of his Majesties bedchamber
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"Grume n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/grume>


