Sc. and north. Forms: α. 5 soym(e, 5 somme, 6 so(l)me, 8– soam. β. 5–7 sowme, 6 soume, sovme, 8 sowm. [prob. a. OF. some, somme, soume, saume (med.L. sauma, sagma: see SEAM sb.2) pack-saddle, horse-load; but the difference in the sense is not accounted for by the existing evidence.]

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  1.  A rope or chain, attaching a draught-horse or other animal to a wagon, plow, etc.; a trace-rope. Also attrib. in soam-chain.

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  α.  1375.  Barbour, Bruce, X. 180. Hastyly He suld stryk with the ax in twa The hede-soyme. Ibid., 233. He … hewit in twa the soym in hy.

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c. 1459.  Reg. Aberbrothoc (Bann. Cl.), II. 108. Owr bailye … straik the sommys in twa and hewyt the plwche.

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1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot., I. 171. Thair wapynis … [they] maid thame all in somes to thair pleuche.

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1582.  Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees, 1860), 46. ij plewes … with socke and culter, viij draught yokes, viij somes.

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1765.  A. Dickson, Treat. Agric. (ed. 2), 255. The soam of the pair immediately before the hindmost must be fixed … to the beam.

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1799.  J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 103. That inconvenience is prevented in the plough by using a long chain (provincially a soam).

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1844.  H. Stephens, Book of Farm, I. 626. The leading horses are thus yoked by a second set of common swing-trees to the end of the soam. Ibid. The middle horse pulling by the soam-chain.

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  β.  1404.  Durh. Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 398. ij cultris,… iij plogherbandis, viij sowmes.

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1451.  Durh. Depos. (Surtees), 30. iij crokes, j sowme.

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1513.  Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., IV. 513. For xx stane of towis to be soumes for the gunnys.

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1572.  Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees, 1835), 350. ix sowmes, iiij plewes, iij cowters.

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1662.  in Pitcairn, Crim. Trials, III. 603. Paddokis did draw the plewgh, as oxen; qwickens wer sowmes.

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1752.  Rec. Elgin (New Spalding Cl.), I. 465. Sowms, thramels, rigwoodies,… and all other … work of … straw, bent or rushes.

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  2.  Coal-mining. (See quots.)

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1789.  Brand, Hist. Newcastle, II. 681. In low seams, [the coals are drawn] on trams, pulled by two small cords, called soams, by a boy.

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1851.  Greenwell, Coal-Trade Terms Northumb. & Durh., 30. A little boy, who performs his part by pulling the tub by a couple of ropes or traces … called soams.

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1883.  Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, 229. Soams. A pair of cords about three feet in length, by which foals and half marrows pull tubs along the roads.

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