A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1475-1599
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Slummer, -ir, n. Also: -yr, slumber, slwmer, slomer, slomber(e. Pl. also slumrys. [ME and e.m.E. slombir (Chaucer), sloumber (1550), slumber (1579); slomowre (a1400), slommer (1530). Cf. Fris. slommer, slûmer, late MHG, Dan., Sw. slummer; Slummer v.]
1. Sleep; a sort or quality of sleep; a period of sleep. Also const. possess. adj. Also pl. Also personified. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii 71.
In that slummir, cummand him thocht he saw Ane agit man c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xiv 1.
Devysing in my slummer, How that [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxxv 9.
For weirines on me ane slummer [M. slwmer] soft Come with ane dremyng and a fantesy 1513 Doug. vi viii 90.
Me … slumrys strang Oppressyt 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 111.
On slummyr I slaid … and slepit sound 1562-3 Winȝet II 13/6.
Wtheris … as it war in a licht slummir easelie to be walkinnit 1587-99 Hume 44/91.
He makes the physicke take effect, the slummers soft he geifispersonified 1570 Satirical Poems x 8.
His sluggische suldarts … led me captiue vnto Maister Slumber
2. fig. A state of a. Unawareness, ignorance. b. Quiescence, repose.a. a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 1307 (Asl.).
Weile & wa heir riches and purete But ony tary baith slydis as a slombere [Arund. slomber, H. slumber] a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 1484 (Asl.).
Man … Fra slomer of syn rathlie he wald wprysb. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6300.
Dreid nocht to dee, for deith is bot ane slummer
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"Slummer n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/slummer_n>
