Obs. Forms: α. 1 wælm, 2– walm, 6 (? qualme), wawlme, wawme, whalme, 6–7 walme, waulm(e, waume, 8 waum. β. 1 welm, (wi(e)lm, wylm), 4 welm(e. [OE. wælm (wielm, etc.; also in ǽ-wielm spring), str, masc. a gushing, swirling of (boiling) liquids; boiling; heat, etc. = mod. WFris. wâlm(e smoke, vapor, mod.Flem. (dial.) walm, wolm, wave bubble, a gushing, etc., Du. walm, LG. walm smoke, OHG., MHG. walm str. masc. heat, passion, G. (dial.) walm ebullition, boiling, whirlpool, MDan. valm, volm heat:—OTeut. *walmi-z, a derivative of *wel- (cf. ON. olmr raging:—*walmo-, ylja to warm:—*wuljan, ylr warmth, affection:—*wuli-z, Goth. wulan to be fervent), the radical sense of which is doubtful.
In the sequence of senses here adopted it is assumed that the notion of surging motion was the original, from which, through the idea of boiling, was developed the idea of heat. In this case *wel- is perh. related to Pre-Teut. *wel(ŭ) to roll, see WALLOW, etc. It is possible that two originally distinct radical elements became confused in Teut. See WALL v.1, to which this word serves as a noun of action.]
1. a. (In OE. only.) Surging or heaving movement (of waves). Chiefly in phrases like wæteres, ýða wielm, often used poet. for ‘sea’ or ‘waves.’ Hence b. A wave, billow.
c. 900. Bæda’s Hist., III. xv. (1890), 200. ʓestilde seo sæ fram ðam wylme.
a. 1000. Andreas, 452. He yðum stilde, wæteres wælmum.
c. 1325. Songs on Learning Music, in Rel. Ant., I. 292. Me is wo so is þe be þat belles in þe walmes.
1558. Phaër, Æneid, VIII. (1562), Aa ij. Ye liuelong night did Tiber flood his streames down couch & calme … yt nether mouing made of waue nor walme.
1581. Studley, Seneca’s Hercules Œtæus, II. 195 b. I smoothed haue the wrastling waues, and layde downe euery walme.
1592. Wyrley, Armorie, Ld. Chandos, 84. The wanton Dolphin dallieth on ech walme.
2. A gushing forth, or upwelling of water; a spring, fountain, water-source; the water of such.
Beowulf, 2546. Wæs ðære burnan wælm heaðofyrum hat.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C. (1871), 373. He drincð of ðæm wielme his aʓnes pyttes.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 141. Þe stan to-chan and fouwer walmes of watere sprungen ut þer of.
13[?]. Guy Warw., 3592. Al to-hewe was his helme, Þe blod ran out als a welme.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 429. In þe welmes ofter þan ones Is y-founde reed splekked stones; In tokene of [þe] blood reed, Þat þe mayde Wynefrede Schadde at þat putte.
3. a. The bubbling and heaving of water, etc., in process of boiling (melting, etc.). Also, one such motion; a ‘wallop,’ a bubble.
a. 1000. Cynewulf, Juliana, 583. In ðæs leades wylm scufan.
c. 1425. Seven Sages (P.), 2363. Thys sevene walmes sygnyfye Seven devels in thy Companye, That ben thy seven clerkys.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Grail, lvi. 397. That water that Cold was before, Anon brenneng hot it be-Cam thore, and with grete walmes it boyllede so faste, that the dewkes hondis it brende.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. lix. 333. Euch as fire causeth water to swell and to send forth great waumes.
a. 1648. Digby, Closet Opened (1677), 28. Let it have a little walm of heat after it.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 85/2. Walm, a little seething or boiling up of Liquor in a Pot.
b. In advb. phrase, (to be, set) a walm: in a boiling condition. Also used fig.
1609. J. Davies (Heref.), Humours Heav. (Grosart), 46/2. He was a walme, he could not stay impeaching, Who smoakt with heat; and chokt all with the smother. Ibid. (c. 1612), Wits Pilgr. (Grosart), 28. The Seas vnfit to saile on, if too calme: As it is when it is too turbulent: Then, the meane motion sets it so a walme As doth the Sailors Eare, and Eye content.
c. A spell of boiling: = WALLOP sb. 2 b.
1558. Warde, trans. Alexis’ Secr. (1568), 63 b. Let them boile at eche time but onelye one wawme.
1575. Turberv., Venerie, lxxix. 230. Let them boyle two or three whalmes vpon the fire. Ibid. Let them boyle therein, a whalme or a wallop in a pewter pot.
1579. Langham, Gard. Health, 15. Put in good store of Sugar, & seethe it a walme or two.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 4/1. Let it seeth on the fyer one qualme or two.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XXIII. ii. II. 157. These togither in a kettle they did set to boile, and let them have ten walms over the fire.
1653. T. Brugis, Vade Mecum (ed. 2), 170. Boyle them a walm or two.
1675. Hannah Woolley, Gentlew. Comp., 145. Stir them together, and give them a walm.
a. 1691. Boyle, Medicin. Exp., vii. (1693), 62. Stop the Bottle, and keep it in boiling Water, till the Water has made three or four walms.
c. 1720. W. Gibson, Farrier’s Dispens., x. (1734), 245. Boil … in fiue Pints of Whey made of Cow’s Milk, and after two or three brisk Waums, remove … from the fire.
1728. E. Smith, Compl. Housew. (1750), 88. Put them in the pot when the water boils, and let them have four or five walms.
4. Sail-making. ‘A certain measure of salt after boiling’ (Leigh, Chesh. Gloss., 1877); in quots. a vessel of some kind holding this quantity.
The identity of the word, and the correctness of Leigh’s interpretation, are somewhat doubtful.
1634. Brereton, Trav. (Chetham Soc.), 16. The salt made is not disposed into sacks, walms, or any other measures, but lieth in huge great heaps.
1693. Act 5 Will. & Mary, c. 7 § 23. Salt made … in the County Palatine of Chester when taken from the Pans is put into Walms Baskettes or Vessells.
5. Comb.: walm-hot adj. blazing-hot, boiling-hot. (Cf. walming hot.)
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen., 2584. Him breʓo engla wylmhatne liʓ to wræce sende.
a. 1225. Juliana 68. He het fecchen a ueat and wið pich fullen, and wallen hit walmbat.
