Now dial. Also 6 tayme. [Aphetic f. ATTAME, ENTAME v.]
1. trans. To pierce, cut into (in fighting or carving); to cut or break into, so as to use.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 7405. Her woundes bledde, her flesch was tamet, The holest of hem ful sore was lamet.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. xviii. 97. Balan … smote hym thorow the shelde and tamyd his helme.
1513. Bk. Keruynge, in Babees Bk. (1868), 265. Tayme that crabbe.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xviii. 118. Then he tameth his stacks of corn, which … providence hath reserv’d for time of need.
1840. H. Ainsworth, Tower Lond., xxxix. In the old terms of his art, he leached the brawn,… tranched the sturgeon,… tamed the crab, and barbed the lobster.
1847–78. Halliwell, Tame, to cut; to divide. West.
1904. in Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v., S. Dev. We shall have to tame the rick.
† b. To broach (a cask, bottle, etc.); also with the liquor as obj. Obs.
a. 1412[?]. Lydg., Two Merchants, 701. Who that wil entren to tamen of the sweete, He mvst as weel … To taste the bittir.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 486/2. Tame, or attaine vessellys wythe drynke…, attamino.
1483. Vulgaria abs Terentio, 15 b. I haue tamed or set a broche all my pypys or tunnys.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 1205. To tame a vessel, i. e. to tap or broach it.
† 2. fig. To enter upon, broach (a subject); to take upon oneself; to begin upon; begin to do something. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Nun’s Pr. Prol., 52 (Harl. MS.). And right anoon he haþ his tale tamyd [v.r. attamed].
c. 1407. Lydg., Reson & Sens., 5636. He wolde ha tamyd Tan [= t’han, i.e., to have] touched yonge Rosis new.
† 3. To injure, hurt. Obs.
c. 1430. Hymns Virg. (1867), 55. Þouȝ ȝe drinke poisoun, it schal not ȝou tame.
c. 1480. Life St. Kath. (Ms. Cott. Titus A xxvi), 180. Neyþer clothys ne theyr here was tamyd with þe fire.
