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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Swarm, n. Also: swarme. [ME and e.m.E. swarm (Cursor M.), OE swearm, Fris., MLG swarm swarm of bees or insects, ON svarmr tumult.]

1. A body of bees massed together in a hive, etc. or in search of a new dwelling-place. c1420 Wynt. iii 145.
A gret swarme off beys thare Wele hyvyd wyth-in the chaftys [sc. of a dead lion] ware 14.. Acts I 385/2.
A swarme … of beis and thai fle out of thi hyff … ar vnderstandin to be thin [= thine] als lang as thai ar in thi sicht 1513 Doug. i vii 28.
Lyke to the beys … Quhen of thar kynd thame list swarmys furthbryng 1513 Doug. vii i 92.
A swarm [of bees] … Hang from a florist branch of this ilk tre 1561 Sanderson Rural Soc. 77.
For the forsaidis landis of Craigelto … 40 s. yeirlie … and foure dosane chikkynis … and ane gude and sufficient swarme of beyis in ane skep yeirlie 1587-99 Hume 30/151.
Some … swarmes hyves on the trees, In knots togidder fast 1621 Perth Kirk S. MS 3 July.
Johne Brown … cum to challeng his swarme of beis

2. A large crowd or mass a. Of insects. b. Of people.a. 1513 Doug. iv vii 83.
The blak swarm [sc. of ants] our the feildis walkis ȝarn Tursand throu the gers thar pray to hydlys darnb. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 165.
And euer I sawe a new[e] swarm [sc. of people] abound, That [thought] to clymbe vpward vpon the quhele [of Fortune]