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 sb., 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.
