Middle English Dictionary Entry
thrum n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | thrum n.(2) Also thrum(m)e, thurm, throm(e; pl. thrummes, etc. & tromes. |
| Etymology | OE -þrum, in cpd. tunge-þrum ligament of the tongue; cp. AF trome (from ME). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An unwoven thread or piece of yarn from the warp of a loom which remains attached to the loom when the web is cut off; also, a short piece of waste thread or yarn; a strand of yarn or bundled fibers used for a mop [quot. 1466]; (b) a trifle, worthless bit; yeven not a ~, to care not a whit.
Associated quotations
a
- (1346) LRed Bk.Bristol2.5 : Drap..fait de fil de lein appele thromes.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester9 : Thromes c ij d. and for j c li. iiij d.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)37 : Tantost lez tromez ele vaudrat..A non hyre tromez she wyndeþ vppe.
- (1420-21) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.458 : De Luca Lender pro i dolio i poka i barello cum c lx petris thrommez.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)37b/b : Licium: a þrum [Cnt: thrumme; Hrl 1738: thurm].
- (1429) RParl.4.360b : The Wevers..taken and have taken before yis tyme in common usage and custume, what tyme yat yei have wroght a Clothe almost to ye end, to kitte away to yair singuler avauntage, ye yerne yat leveth unwoven, and callen hit Throm- mes..and sellen hit to siche persones yat leden hit into Flaundres, and oyer straunge Cuntrees, as gode Merchandises.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)493 : Thrvmm, of a clothe: Filamen.
- (1444) RParl.5.104b : There is grete plente of Wolle..shippede oute of..England, under colour of Thromes.
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57346 : Item, paid for thrommes for pyche mapoltes, ij d.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)128a : A Thrwme: licium.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)728/17 : Licium: a throm.
- a1525(?1474) Cov.Leet Bk.400 : Þat he [weaver] sell no man's Thrommes, lynnen ne wollen.
b
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)6566 : Achilles closed him..aboute..But he ȝaff not ther-of a throme.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. thrum.