A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1456-1552, 1656-1681
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Humour, n. Also: humor, houmer, howmer, heoumore. [ME. humour (1340 in sense 1), humor(e, L. hūmor.]
1. One or other of the bodily humours.Also, morbid bodily fluid. 1456 Hay I. 101/27.
We se that malady cummys nocht in mannis body, bot for sum exces of evill humouris 1456 Ib. II. 126/29.
That thare habound mekle humour in thy mouth 1490 Irland Mir. I. 69/1.
The … moving and flowing of thare humoris 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 9/10.
That ther membris mycht be purgit fra corruppit humouris c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4922.
Quhen that cald humour dounwart dois proceid In sennounis 1674 Scottish Notes and Queries 3 Ser. III. 185.
Having heoumores in hir breaine 1681 Red Bk. Menteith II. 194.
The continouanc of this gutish howmer in both my hands
2. Moisture, dampness. 1456 Hay II. 140/29.
The humouris of the bark and the bitternes of the curnis [of raisins] 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 91.
The spray bysprent … For callour humour on the dewy nicht 1513 Ib. 137.
Ilk burgioun … dyd in dulce humouris fleyt 1531 Bell. Boece I. 71.
This regioun, throw the cauld humouris thairof, ingeneris wolffis of feirs … nature 1535 Stewart 51960.
With spycarye … quhilk was conseruatywe Fra all humor or canker corruptywe
3. A mood, caprice. 1656 Laing MSS. I. 305.
Waitting one to satisfye others houmers
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"Humour n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/humour>
