Middle English Dictionary Entry
grọ̄m n.
Entry Info
| Forms | grọ̄m n. Also grōm, grome, groum, grum(e. Pl. gen. grọ̄mene. |
| Etymology | Prob. OE *grō̆m, *grōma. ?Akin to OE grōwan. ?Influenced by OE guma. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An infant boy; litel ~; (b) a boy; (c) a youth, young man.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)978 : Sche childed a selcouþe grome.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)242 : Þe holi man..fond þe cradel in þe stede..And biheld þe litel grom [rime: anon].
- c1330 St.Greg.(Auch)53/147 : Þe tonne and þe litel grome [rime: brome] In to þe see we han y brouȝt.
- 1372 Lullay lullay litel child child (Adv 18.7.21)7 : Lullay, lullay, litel grom, king of alle þingge.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)168/194 : What the Deuill shold this be! a boy, a groome of Low degree shold raigne aboue my Roialtie!
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)114b : Hire meiden mei learen sum oðer [Nero: lutil] meiden þet were pliht of to leornin among wepmen oðer bimong gromes.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1645 : Þu seist þat gromes þe ifoð, An heie on rodde þe an hoð.
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)10/171 : Wenne be ye, fayre grome, þat here to londe ben ycome?
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.8 : And was oute threo ȝer and an half er he aȝe com; Tho he com, he fond his sone a god goinge grom.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)790 : Ich am nou no grom [rime: at hom]; Ich am wel waxen.
- a1400 Floris (Eg 2862)73/111 : His Aunt set him to lore Þere as other children wore, Boþ maydons and grome.
- a1500 Quest.MOxf.(Hrl 1304)285 : C.: How fele children had Adam & Eue? M.: xxxti gromes and xxxti maidens.
c
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2472 : He setten hem dun bi þe wawe, Riche and pouere, heye and lowe, Þe helde men and ek þe grom, And made þer þe rithe dom.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)5799 : He seye wiþ þat a grom [Cai: knaue] cominde, To him ward fast erninge.
- c1330 Floris (Auch)1108 : Bifore hire bed miself I com, And fond bi hire an naked grom [vr. man].
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)44/976 : Þou art bicome al to wis a grome [rime: dome].
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)200 : False pleadoures..with hir termes and hir domes Doon maydens, children, and eek gromes Her heritage to forgo.
2.
(a) A male servant, attendant; a retainer; a knight's squire; (b) an attendant or minor officer in any of the various departments in a royal, noble, or ecclesiastical household, ranking below the yeoman but higher than the page; (c) in titles of such attendants: ~ bocher (bultere, cirurgien, cok, herde, messagere, pigge takere, portere, purveiour, skinnere, taloueman): ~ for the hall (kinges mouth, sething place); ~ of (the) armurie (beddes, chaumbre, hall, robes, stable, warderobe, etc.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1385 : Þe grom him bi het swiþe wel i wis To maken it aftur his deuis.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)5975 : Now y no haue a grom to held mi stede.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)753 : He bad his grom..kepen wel al here þing.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)210/7 : Þet mest heþ hors mest him fayleþ gromes and stablen.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3408 : Every man schal take his dom, Als wel the Maister as the grom.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.85 : I..suwed þat samaritan..And graunted hym to ben his grome.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1127 : Gestes þat go wolde, hor gromez þay calden.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1635 : With hir was nowþer knave ne grome.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2526 : A grete spere fro his grome he grypes in hondes.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)206 : He shulde drenche Lord and lady, grom and wenche, Of al the Troian nacion.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.344 : Gromes ouere-grewe so many grette maistris.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)473 : The gromes that ledde the somers wiste neuer worde till that thei were fallen euen a-monge hem.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)510 : The gromes toke the palfreys and lepte vp and rode in to the foreste.
b
- a1350(1307) Execution Fraser (Hrl 2253)114 : He him sende to londone wiþ mony armed grom.
- a1350 Of Rybaudȝ (Hrl 2253)2 : Of rybaudz y ryme ant rede o mi rolle, of gedelynges, gromes, of colyn & of Colle.
- a1350 Of Rybaudȝ (Hrl 2253)16 : Gobelyn made is gerner of gromene mawe.
- c1390 RSicily (Vrn)189 : Þer nas in court grom ne page þat of þe Kyng ne made rage.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1150 : Quyk he led hire hom; Hym folowed many kniȝth and grom.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)83 : He must charge þe sergeaunt..for to warne al þe yemen and gromys of the office to be at metyng at the sonne ryseng and þat þe yemen beerners on foot and þe gromys þat higheten chacechiens bryng with hem þe hert howndis.
- (1442) Doc.Ireland in RS 69278 : He hath ordeynt and made Iryshmen and gromis and pagys of his howsolde knyghtys of the schyre.
- (1444) Will Daubeney in Som.RS 19343 : Item, to every yoman in houshold nought rewarded vj s. viij d., And to every grome iij s. iiij d.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)59/290 : Ȝif a seruaunt or a grom of a lord had take a prison, þe raunsum þat schuld be payd for him schuld nat be payd to þe seruaunt, but to þe lord.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)301/251 : None of my gromys schall greue þe.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.228 : The chaundery: Robert Wixton, [etc.]..yomen..William Fletcher, [etc.]..gromes..Henry Hoder, page.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.232 : Surgeons: Robert Waren, sergeant..Thomas Bekbank, grome.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4916 : To eche grome and page, vj d.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)1122,1125 : Yff þe kynge send to þy souereyn eny his seruand by sand, Yeff he be a grome receve hym as a yeman in manere..hit rebuketh not a knyght þe kynges grome to sytte at his table.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)435 : De officio garcionum. Gromes palettis shyn fyle and make litere.
- a1475 Ordin.Househ.Grossetest (Sln 1986)216 : Commaunde ȝe that ȝoure almys be kepyd, & not..be wasted in soperys ne dyners of gromys.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)64 : One groome also in thys offyce [of countyng house]..in attendaunce..under the sergeaunt.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)17 : Knyȝt ne squyer wold he non, But hym self and a grome.
c
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)3543 : To cowrt cam Merlyne faste rennenge jn liknesse of a groom messenger.
- (?a1450) Doc.in Dugdale Monasticon 1443 : Sche shall pay for a gown to her grome coke and her poding wief by the yere ij s.
- (1450) RParl.5.193a : Provided also and except, that this present Act of Resumption, strech not nor extende, nor in any maner wyse be prejudiciell, unto any Graunt of Grauntes, made by us unto Thomas Carre, Grome of oure Robes.
- (1450) RParl.5.193b : Oure servaunt Richard Wadnyng, Grome of oure Warderobe of Bedds.
- (1450) RParl.5.197b : William Burton, Grome of the Chambre with the Quene.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.225 : Gromes of þe chambre: Thomas Carre, grome of þe robes; Henry Wymbervyle, grome of þe beddes; William Marchall, grome skynnere; John Blyghton, grome of þe armurie; John Davy, grome porter.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.226 : The office of the bakhous..Robert Baxter, grome purveor; vj gromes bulters.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.228 : Thoffice of þe kechyn..gromes for þe halle..William Goldyng, grome for þe sething place.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.229 : Thoffice of þe catery..iij gromes bochers, j grome pigge taker..j grome herde, j grome talewman.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.231 : Thoffice of the pulterie..Thomas Gardyner grome for þe Kinges mouthe.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.233 : Thoffice of þe stable..xj yomen and gromes of þe stable.
- (?1458) Paston (Gairdner)3.121 : By the Kings moste noblez lettrez brought me late by Hagreston, oon of the gromes of his chambre, I am desirede to come unto his Highnesse.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)41 : Gromes of chambyr, x, therof one is groome porter that berith wood, strawe, russhes, for the King's chambre..Another of these groomes is called..groome surgeon.
- a1500 Rule Serve Ld.(Add 37969)11/9 : To parforme þese thynges..he shall charge þe vsshere and þe grome of the hall þer wyth.
- a1500 Rule Serve Ld.(Add 37969)12/10 : Þe yemen and gromys or grome of þe chambre..shall set vp bordes..afore mete.
3.
(a) A man of low station or birth; ?also, a worthless person; (b) a man.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Prov.Hend.(Hrl 2253)261 : He fareþ so deþ þe luþer grom, þat men euer beteþ on Wiþ one smerte ȝerde.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)395 : Yuel were mi fairhed sett on þe, & y swiche a grome toke, & so mani grete lordinges for-soke.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)112/24 : Þet bread is..kynges mete..ne is naȝt mete to gromes.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.227 : Yf þe gromes grucche, bid hem go swynke.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)219/13 : But he þat me greues for a grume, Beware!
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)308/28 : Nor no kyng but he schall come to my call, Nor grome þat dare greue me for golde.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4559 : To drery dede doune war þai dongen, Bathe grete man and grome.
- a1500(?1388) Syng I wold (Dub 516)p.272 : Gentyl, gromys, and boyys, socii sunt atque gulosi.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1767 : Þan ȝede a grom of grece in þe gardyn to pleie.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.173 : Was neuere grom [vrr. man, gome]..Fairere vndirfonge ne frendliere mad at ese.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1006 : Bi vche grome at his degre grayþely watz serued.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)86 : And þan shal þe grome quest in þe cuntre þat shal be deuysed to hym þe nyȝt bifore.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)38/533 : & make hem behold vals schrewis & swich vnþrifti gromes as tei be.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3986 : He seyȝe þat cursede Bryxin come..an horribulle, foulle grome.
- c1460 Cursor (LdMisc 416)17609 : Loke we yern how we might do that dowghty grome Ioseph of Aramaty to vs to come.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)2101 : All þe doghty be-dene þat was dede he Commandez To geder þaim vp ilke grome [Ashm: gome] & þaim in graue bring.
- c1500(?c1450) Wedding Gawain (Rwl C.86)60 : Streyghte ther cam to hym a quaynt grome.
4.
(a) In surnames [see also bour ~, got ~, lomb ~, miln ~, plough ~, se ~, shep ~]; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.210].
Associated quotations
a
- (1186) in Pipe R.Soc.36122 : Ærn Grom.
- (1202) Feet Fines Yks.in Sur.Soc.9443 : Petrus le Grom.
- (1222) Domesday Bk.St.Paul in Camd.6960 : Godefridus grom.
- (1235) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms130 : Will. le Grom.
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 2168 : Thomas le Grom.
- (1297) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 16151 : Felicia Grome.
- (1327) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms130 : Rob. Groum.
- (1327) Sub.R.Stf.in WSAS 7220 : Johannes le Grom.
- (1392) Court R.Hastings in Sus.RS 37120 : John Lytegrom.
- (1445) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms130 : Joh. Grome.
b
- (1239) in Wallenberg PNKent96 : Gromenebregge.
- (1270) in Wallenberg PNKent96 : Grombreg'.
- (1283) in Wallenberg PNKent96 : Boscis vocatis Gromenerede.
- (1286) in Wallenberg PNKent96 : Groumibrigg.
- (1292) in Wallenberg PNKent96 : Groumbrugg'.
- (1312) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)371 : Gromenecroft.
- (1318) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)371 : Gromenebregge.
- (1355) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)371 : Grombrugg.
- (c1480) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)371 : Grumbrygge.