Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 5 lokerham, 6 locram, lo(c)queram, lockerom, locorum, lokeram, 6–7 locrum, lockrome, 7 lokram, 7–9 lock(a)rum, 6–9 lockeram, 6– lockram. [ad. F. locrenan, from Locronan (lit. ‘cell of St. Ronan’), the name of a village in Brittany, where the fabric was formerly made. For the form cf. BUCKRAM.]
1. A linen fabric of various qualities for wearing apparel and household use. Also, an article made of lockram; in pl., pieces of lockram.
1483–4. in Swayne, Sarum Church-w. Acc. (1896), 35. Pro vna vlna de lokerham ad emendand. diuersas albas, vjd.
1520. Sir R. Elyot, Will, in T. Elyot’s Gov. (1883), I. App. A. 313. Lynnen cloth of canvas and lokeram for shetes and smockes and shirtes.
1552. in Surrey Church Goods (1869), 16. One old surplice of loqueram.
a. 1592. Greene, Jas. IV., IV. iii. Let the linings be of tenpenny lockram.
1607. Shaks., Cor., II. i. 224. The Kitchin Malkin pinnes Her richest Lockram ’bout her reechie necke.
1615. Markham, Eng. Housew., II. i. (1668), 42. Spread it thin upon new Lockram or Leather somewhat bigger than the grief.
1666. Lond. Gaz., No. 38/1. Two Barks of this Town laden with Lockerams from Jersey and Guernsey. Ibid. (1692), No. 2810/4. A considerable quantity of Locrums and Dowlas.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills (1872), II. 245. The sisters wear Lockram, and buy it of him.
1820. Scott, Abbot, ii. Why should I bend to her?—is it because her kirtle is of silk, and mine of blue lockeram?
2. attrib.
1554. Bury Wills (Camden), 147. To Mother Huntman a new rayle and a lockerom kercher.
1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle, II. 755. His lockram bande sewde to his hempen shirt.
1632. Brome, North. Lasse, IV. iii. Wks. 1873, 111. 74. Let all the good you intended me, be a lockram Coife, a blew Gown, a Wheel, and a clean Whip.
1640. Glapthorne, Wit in a Constable, IV. Wks. 1874, I. 217. Thou thoughtst, because I did weare Lokram shirts Ide no wit.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 129. A lockram shift.
b. Lockram jaws, jaws covered with flesh as thin as lockram. Hence Lockram-jawed a.
1682. New News fr. Bedlam, 36. Their Lockram Jaws we’l rent and tear.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Lockram-jaw’d, Thin, Lean, Sharp-visag’d.
1706. E. Ward, Hud. Rediv., I. VI. 7. After he’d made a little Pause, Again he stretch’d his Lockram Jaws.
1735. Dyche & Pardon, Dict., Lockram-jaw’d, a Person of a long, lean, meagre Visage or Countenance.
