Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Carp, v. Also: carpe, cairp. [ME. carpe(n), ON. karp boasting, Icel. karpa to boast. Only in poetry.]

1. intr. To speak, talk, converse, discourse. 1375 Barb. x. 397.
Als-soyn thai Held carpand inward on thair way a1400 Leg. S. vi. 145.
As thai thus-gat carpand vare, The appostil to tham com thare c1420 Wynt. v. 1110.
Be the fute a wyff hym gat, And benely carpyt effty re that Ib. v. 1693.
Quhen this qwene had carpyt thus ?1438 Alex. i. 2120.
Nane laser mair to carpe haue we Ib. ii. 1317.
Thus ȝeid thay carpand to the wall a1500 Rauf C. 211.
The carll with ane clere voce carpit on he a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 46.
Than carpit king Arthur a1500 Henr. Fab. 1058.
As thay wer carpand in this cais with knakis, … Swa come the ȝow a1500 Seven S. 1300.
He his hors with spurris scharpe Straike and tarijt nocht to carpe c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 510.
Thai … carpit full cummerlyk, with cop going round Id. xxxii. 52.
Quhen carpand wer thir two most crous 1513 Doug. i. iv. 85.
Syk plesand wordis, carpand, he has furth brocht Ib. iii. ix. 46.
He … on this wys begouth to carp and say Ib. vi. iii. 8; etc.
Talkand and carpand oft quhar as tha go 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6874.
Thair toungis ar schairp As ony sword … , Quhairwith sa crouslie thay will cairp a1605 Montg. Son. xviii. 10.
Incurage me, and able I can carpefig. 1535 Stewart 18802.
With brandis bricht that scherand wer and scharp, So cruellie togidder that tha carp

b. Const. of (a thing) or to (a person, etc.).(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 726.
Tha[i] … sat percase and carpit sammyne, Quhilis of hernyst & quhilis of gammyn c1400 Troy-bk. i. 312.
As commouns carpe will of all thinge c1420 Wynt. i. 68.
I turne my style Off mankynde for to carpe a quhylle ?1438 Alex. i. 458.
Of that ȝe carpe na mair to me 1513 Doug. ix. Prol. 32.
Sen we mon carp of vassalage a quhile Ib. xi. ix. 37.
Ilkane … Carpys of paix c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 479.
Thairfoir I say thow carpis of cowardise a1585 Polwart Flyt. 575.
Of his conditions to carp for a while(2) a1500 Rauf C. 44.
The King carpit to the carll withoutin debait a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 53.
Schir Kay carpit to the king a1500 Seven S. 1881.
Thar carpit Cato to the king, Clerkly and with faire having 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 24.
In haymly wordis to ws thus carpis he Ib. xi. xi. 50.
Onto the hevyn abuf thus carpys he

c. To produce musical sounds. 1461 Liber Plusc. 392.
Rycht as all stringis ar reulit in a harp In ane accord … than curiusly thai carp

2. tr. To say, utter (words, etc.). a1500 Rauf C. 492.
That word is for nocht That thow carpis thair a1500 Prestis of Peblis 84.
The king … thire wordis to thaim carpis 1513 Doug. vii. iv. 5.
Thir wordis first to thame carpis the king 1572 Sat. P. xxxii. 46.
As wratches werie the corenoche we carpe