Obs. Forms: 1 truma; 3–4 trume, trome, (4 trun; cf. SHELTRON1). [OE. trūma, app. a derivative of the adj. trum firm, strong, able to resist (neither truma nor trum appears outside English.)

1

  Notwithstanding a suspicious likeness in form and sense to L. turma ‘troop, squadron, crowd, throng,’ the OE. derivatives of truma (e.g., ʓetruma, antruma, trymman, to TRIM, etc.) show it to be a native word.]

2

  A body of persons, esp. of troops, etc., in battle array; a troop; a company, band; a crowd, multitude. Cf. THRUM sb.1

3

c. 893.  K. Ælfred, Oros., V. xii. § 5. He hæfde eahta & eahtatiʓ coortana, þæt we nu truman hatað.

4

c. 1205.  Lay., 26968. Rom-leoden ræsden to … Breken Bruttene trume.

5

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 21. Þat eadi trume of schimerinde meidenes.

6

c. 1300.  Havelok, 8. Hauelok was a ful god gome, He was ful god in euerie trome.

7

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 2372. Þe Ameral þyderward haþ him nome, To þt feldeward þan ful rizt; & wan he sawe þat huge trome, His herte anon gan lyȝte. Ibid., 5432. Wanne hire hostes were to-gadre y-come, Þanne was ther an huge trome, iij hundred þousent & mo.

8