Q: Two "cabinnes" in the same "rowme" (1674)

[Jonathan Lighter]

How about "sleeping quarters," perhaps separated here by a screen or
something. That would be close-but-no-cigar to "boudoir."

Another tweak to the OED needed, in any case.

JL

On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 10:06 AM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> Subject:      Q: Two "cabinnes" in the same "rowme" (1674)
>
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>
> I have a sentence from 1674 that describes a male and female being
> accused of too familiar activities, including "haveing their Cabinnes
> together in the same rowme".
>
> [Maine Records, 2:290.]
>
> Assuming "rowme" is "room", I am puzzled by "Cabinne".  Nothing under
> "cabin" in the OED seems to fit.  Surely not the cell of an
> eremite.  "A small room, a bedroom, a boudoir"?  But the two cabinnes
> were in the same room.  "A berth (in a ship)"?  But this was not a
> ship but a house.  A "cabin-bed, a berth"?  Perhaps, but not a berth.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Joel
>
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