Forms: 5–7 alm(e; 7 awme, aume; 7–8 ame, awm, aum. [Du. aam (pl. amen); cogn. w. mod. G. ahm, ohm; MHG. âme, ôme; OHG. âma, ôma a cask; ON. âma a tub; a. L. ăma, hăma; ad. Gr. ἄμη a water-bucket. Aam is the mod. Du spelling, the Eng. forms being only historical.] A Dutch and German liquid measure, formerly used in England for Rhenish wine; a cask. It varied in different continental cities from 37 to 41 gallons.
1526. Ord. for Royal Househ. Henry VIII., 195. Renish wine 4 fatts, every fat containing 3 Almez, at 30s. the Alme.
1604. Act I James I., c. xxxii (granting Tonnage and Poundage). Of euery Awme of Rhenish Wine, that is, or shall so come in, twelue pence.
1696. Phillips, Auln or Aum of Renish Wine, a measure containing 40 Gallons, and as many pints over and above.
1717. Blount, Law Dict., I find in a very old printed Book thus:—The Rood of Rhenish-wine of Dordreight is ten Awames, and every Awame is fifty Gallons; item the Rood of Antwarp is xliij Awames, and every Awame is xxxv Gallons.
1721. Bailey, Aulne Of Rhenish Wine, a Vessel that contains 40 Gallons. Ibid. (1731), vol. II. Ame (of Antwerp) a vessel containing 50 stoops, each stoop 7 pints English measure.
