▪ I. ˈgersum, n. Obs. exc. Hist.
Forms: 1 gær-, gersum(a, 2–6, 9 Hist. gersum, 3 garsum, gersom, 5 grassum, 5–6 gersome, girsum(me, gressome, 6 gersumme, -sowme, gyrsome, -soome, -soume, grassumme, gressam, -um, grissume, -ome, 6–7 garsome, 3, 7 gersume, (8 garsom).
[OE. gærsum, gersum, str. masc. and neut. gærsuma, gersuma, wk. masc. = ON. g{obar}rsimi, wk. fem., MSw. görsam.]
1. A treasure, precious possession; a costly gift.
| c 1045 O.E. Chron. (MS. C) an. 1035 Harold..let niman of hyre ealle þa bestan gærsuma. a 1100 Ibid. (Laud MS.) an. 1047 For neah man sceolde to brecan his stef, ᵹif he [Vlf] ne sealde þe mare gersuman. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 91 Þa com þe mon mid his gersume to þan apostolum. a 1225 Ancr. R. 350 Þe gode pilegrim..ne bereð no garsum. a 1300 Floriz & Bl. 419 Þureȝ..þis gersume Ihc am nu þi man bicume. a 1300 Cursor M. 6753 If theif na gersum has ne gifte. c 1420 Anturs of Arth. 697 (Thornton) He weddid his wyfe..Withe gyftes and gersoms [Douce MS. garsons: see Garrison]. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 936, I rek nocht of thy riches..Thy God [? read gude] nor thy Grassum set I bot licht. |
2. Chiefly Sc. A premium or fine paid to a feudal superior on entering upon a holding.
| 1389 in C. Welch Tower Bridge (1894) 79 [An example of a] gersum [for a shop on the bridge occurs in the accounts of 1389]. c 1450 Henryson in Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Club) 977 Syne vexis him, or half the terme be gane, With pykit querrellis, for to make him fane To flitt, or pay the girsum new agane. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xvii. 13 Mailis and gersomes rasit ouir hie. 1530 Test. Ebor. (Surtees) V. 288 In recompense of fynes and garsomes that I toke of his tenementes. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages (ed. Laing) 221 His maillis, gersowmes, and daylie rent. 1610 Holland Camden 474 It paieth..an hundred shillings for a Gersume to the Queene. 1682 Hickeringill Wks. (1716) II. 5 Except the Place might cost somewhat at the entrance and admittance for a Garsome or Fine. 1703 Thoresby Let. to Ray (E.D.S.), Garsom, ‘a garsom’, a foregift at entring a farm, a Gods⁓penny. 1708 Termes de la Ley, Gersuma is an obsolete Word, for a Fine or Sum of Money. 1851 Sir F. Palgrave Norm. & Eng. I. 592 According to the feudal system a gersum was rendered to the Seigneur upon the vassal's death. |
| attrib. 1567 in Maitland's Hist. Edinb. (1753) 211 The Interess and Gersome Silver yat sal happin to be obteinit yairfore. |
▪ II. † ˈgersum, v. Obs.
[f. the n.]
trans. To subject to a fine, impose a fine upon. to gersume in: to admit to possession of in consideration of a fine or rent.
| 1483 Cath. Angl. 151/1 To Garsumme (A. Gersome), gressummare. 1502 Will of T. Martyn (Somerset Ho.), To my son..as many acres of land as he is garsumed in of myn own lande. |