Tam (or
Tamas)
Lin (also called
Tamlane,
Tamlin,
Tomlin,
Tam Lien,
Tam-a-Line,
Tam Lyn, or
Tam Lane) is a character in a
legendary ballad originating from the
Scottish Borders, (
Child 39,
Roud 35). It is also associated with a
reel of the same name, also known as Glasgow Reel. The story revolves around the rescue of Tam Lin by his true love from the
Queen of the Fairies. While this
ballad is specific to
Scotland, the motif of capturing a person by holding him through all forms of
transformation is found throughout Europe in
folktales. The story has been adapted into various stories, songs and films.