▪ I. † trume, trome, n. Obs.
Forms: 1 truma; 3–4 trume, trome, (4 trun; cf. sheltron1).
[OE. truma, app. a derivative of the adj. trum firm, strong, able to resist (neither truma nor trum appears outside English.)
Notwithstanding a suspicious likeness in form and sense to L. turma ‘troop, squadron, crowd, throng’, the OE. derivatives of truma (e.g. ᵹetruma, antruma, trymman, to trim, etc.) show it to be a native word.]
A body of persons, esp. of troops, etc. in battle array; a troop; a company, band; a crowd, multitude. Cf. thrum n.1
| c 893 K. ælfred Oros. v. xii. §5 He hæfde eahta & eahtatiᵹ coortana, þæt we nu truman hatað. 1205 Lay. 26968 Rom-leoden ræsden to..Breken Bruttene trume. c 1230 Hali Meid. 21 Þat eadi trume of schimerinde meidenes. c 1300 Havelok 8 Hauelok was a ful god gome, He was ful god in euerie trome. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2372 Þe Ameral þyderward haþ him nome, To þ⊇ feldeward þan ful riȝt; & wan he sawe þat huge trome, His herte anon gan lyȝte. Ibid. 5432 Wanne hire hostes were to-gadre y-come, Þanne was ther an huge trome, iij hundred þousent & mo. |
▪ II. † trume, trome, v. Obs. rare—1.
[f. prec.]
? intr. To assemble in a troop.
| ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 3592 Nowe bownes the bolde kynge..Gers trome and trusse, and trynes forth aftyre. |