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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.

Reclame, -cleme, v. Also: -claim(e, -clayme, -claiȝme, -cleame. [ME (Cursor M., Gower) and e.m.E. reclaym(e, -clame, -claim(e; ME recleym(e (Manning), OF reclamer, -claimer (12th c.), L. reclāmāre.]

1. tr. To recall to a better condition; to bring back (from error or misdemeanour) (to the right or good). a1500 Henr. Orph. 579.
O man, recleme thi folich harte a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1587 (Wr.).
[He] Who did from death to life recleame Mee 1638 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 1.
I desyred [the Bishops] … thatt they wold … labor to reclame the ministers who was formerly conforme 1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 215.
To reclaiȝme his disobedient subjects 1666 Laing MSS I 355.
If he could be reclaymed it wer a noble act to pardon 1670 Edinb. B. Rec. X 72.
They did endeavour to reclame him from such gross malversationes

b. To win back, regain. c1590 Fowler I 133/187.
Our soules sall than reclame Immortall bewtye

c. To revoke (a sentence). 1607 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 72.
Reclaime my daithe, off lyiff prolong my daitt

2. a. To sue (a person); to make a claim against (him) at law. 1456 Hay I 92/35.
Quhethir … he may lefully recover apon him be were his thing, gif he may reclame him in jugement Ib. 168/1.
Thai quite clamand him in tyme tocum, to nocht reclame him of thai gudis

b. To claim back (a possession). 1578 Rec. Earld. Orkney 143.
The aris to have na place to ganecall nor never to reclame the samin, … becaues the said land lay under the haid bwile or howis 1622-6 Bisset II 232/19, 24.
The awnaris … may reclame the saidis twa thriddis allanerlie

3. To claim (afresh) (a person) to be (something). 1565 Knox VI 265.
When He hath … tourned … his back unto us then I say stil to reclayme Him to be our God … is the greatest victorie of faith

4. intr. To protest or exclaim (aganis or to a person or non-material thing); to make a protest. 1531 Bell. Boece I 67.
Na caus occurris to reclame aganis fortoun nor the hevinnis 1535 Stewart 3782.
The commoun voce agane him did reclame 1565 Knox VI 262.
Who began to call in doubte the chiefe article of our faith … bicause that naturall judgement … reclaymed thereto 1567 Acts III 37/1.
That na personis reclamyng to the religioun or that do not profes it with ws in all pointis be permittit to enioy benefice 1558-66 Knox II 273.
No man reclamed, nor maid repugnance to it [sc. a proclamation], except the Erle of Arrane onlie

b. To reclame to (one's liberty), to claim back again, reclaim. Cf. 2 b above. — 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Bondagium.
The quhilk bond-men, gif they reclaime to their libertie, or happen to be fugitiue fra their maister, may be drawen back againe … to servitude

5. To appeal (fra (against) a legal judgement, also, to, unto another court).Common in later legal usage. 1575 Misc. Maitl. C. I 123.
That he may appe[re] and reclaime fra the said ordinance of the perticular kirk of Edinburgh c1575 Balfour Pract. 416.
That he had just cause to reclame thairfra 1578–9 Reg. Privy C. III 109.
[The said decreet] … fra the quhilk the said Dame Grissell hes reclamit 1672 Ib. 3 Ser. III 435.
The complainers imprisonment, against which the compleaner does not reclame — c1590 Fowler II 124/8.
In all actions … where there is no appellatioun nor justice seate to reclame vnto 1697 Dallas Stiles 455.
By the saids acts their is a provision and salvo for the defender to reclaim and make application to the lords in case of unjustice of the judge