talm, v. Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: α. 4–5 talme. β. 6–7 tawme, 7–9 tawm, 8–9 taum.
[Akin to ON. talma to hinder, obstruct, MLG. talmen to trouble with speaking, LG. talmen to be slow in speech and at work, to linger, dawdle (Brem. Wbch.), EFris. talmen to plague, worry, solicit tiresomely, Du. talmen to linger, dawdle, loiter.]
intr. To become exhausted; to fail, tire, faint, swoon.
| α c 1325 Song on Learning Music in Rel. Ant. I. 292, I donke upon David til mi tonge talmes. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 2581 Thow trowes with thy talkynge þat my harte talmes! c 1440 Le Bone Florence (Ritson) 769 Hur fadur nere hande can [= gan] talme, Soche a sweme hys harte can swalme. |
| β 1566 Drant Wail. Hierim. K iv, (Lam. ii. 11) My babes dyd faynt, And sucklynges tawmed in the streetes. 1674 Ray N.C. Words 47 To Tawm; to swoon. 1684 Meriton Yorksh. Dial. 169 Ise like to tawme, this day's seay [= so] varry warme. 1787 Grose Provinc. Gloss. Suppl., Taum, To swoon. 1828 Craven Gloss., Taum, to swoon, to fall sick; generally, ‘to taum over’. |
Hence
talm n., faintness, exhaustion; in
mod. dial. (
tawm), ‘a fit of faintness or sickness’ (E.D.D.).
| c 1375 Cursor M. 20758 (Fairf.) Ga to þa men þat lijs in talme [Cott. & Gött. sualm(e, Trin. qualm], And touche ham..And þai salle baþ haue hele & witte. |