Middle English Dictionary Entry
tram(me n.
Entry Info
| Forms | tram(me n. Also trame; pl. trammes, traimmes, traumes & (errors) tranmys, trawynns. |
| Etymology | OF traime, traimme, (late 15th. cent.) trame; also cp. MScot. tram & AL trāma cart-shaft. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A mechanical device: an astronomical instrument; a siege tower or machine; also [1st quot.], nautical gear or tackle, ?a mast; (b) fig. a contrivance, stratagem.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)101 : Then he tron on þo tres, and þay her tramme ruchen, Cachen vp þe crossayl, cables þay fasten.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)127 : He toke traimmes him with, to tute in þe sternes, Astralalus [read: Astralabus] algate as his arte wald.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)286 : He clekis out of a cas vij clere sternes To tell him takens of þe tymes..And vij stele-grauyn stanys..Þus..he tuke furth his toylis & his tranmys [?read: trammys] schewis.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1296 : Ser Balaan..Buskes him in breneis, with big men of armes, With traumes [Dub: trawynns] & with tribochetis þe tild to asaile.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1373 : Quen he had tiȝt vp þis tram [Dub: trame] & þis tild rerid..hiȝere it semed Þan was þe wallis..of þe wale touris.
b
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)3 : Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun þer wroȝt Watz tried for his tricherie, þe trewest on erthe.