DSL - DOST   Tram, n.² Also: trahame, tramme.  [North. e.m.E. tram(m (1516-17), tram (1585) a sledge or cart for transporting coal, MLG trame, treme, MDu. trame a balk, beam, rung, etc., LG traam a shaft of a barrow, etc.]
    1. The shaft of a cart, sledge, etc. See also BARROW-TRAM n. b. transf. A sledge, consisting of two shafts and crosspieces of some sort, for transporting stones.  Ane pair of sled trammys to be lymmarris to ane of the saiddis falconis; 1544-5 Treas. Acc. VIII 360.  He brake ane cairt tram whairwith he ... invaidit [etc.]; 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 231.  Ane ald cherret witht trames and sadles; 1638 Elphinstone Mun. 26.  A gairdin hurle borrow with iron trams; 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII 368. b.  [McWalkane, ... driving a horse and] trahame [with stones for] lie bulwark; 1512 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 288.
    2. An upright post of a gibbet.  Convict of the tressonabill setting of his maiesteis portract to the tramme of the gibbet; 1601 Crim. Trials II 350.  The hangman brak his suord betuixt the crossis of Abirdein, and betuixt the gallowis-tramis standing thair; Spalding II 4.

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