hame
.
Searchable Lemmata: hom (OE), hama (OE), hame (ME), hame (MdE).
Alternate Forms: ham, haam.
Definitions and Defining Citations:
1(n.)
Garment;
covering in general (skin, etc.); clothing.(ante 1000 - circa 1560)
Sex: Male, Female Use: n/a Status: n/a Rank: n/a Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
Etymological Evidence:
Definite, native Old English word from proto-Germanic *hamô, ultimately from the PIE root *k'am 'cover' etc. Cognates in various Germanic languages, e.g. Old Icelandic hamr 'skin', OHG -camo (in compounds) 'covering', etc. The same PIE root lies behind the Germanic source of Latin camisia (q.v.), glossed by ham in several OE glosses; see discussion under hemeþe.
Old English citations, most from glossarial contexts, have this word in the sense of garment, whereas the Middle English dictionary commonly has citations in the sense 'skin' (e.g., as of a reptile); but note Old English 'bil eal ðurhwod / fægne flæschoman' (Beowulf 1567-8, of Grendel's mother).
WF:
Etym Cog: hamr.
References:
