A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1560-1695
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Rouper, Rowp(p)ar, -er, Rop(p)er, n. [Roup v.]
1. One who makes a raucous or harsh sound. a1585 Polwart Flyt. 791 (T).
Land lowper, licht scoipper, raggit rowpper, lyk a revin
2. One who sells goods by roup or auction.(a) 1560 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 167.
To the remanent cumpany of the samyn rowparis, sellaris and deliveraris of thair partis of the said pris 1583 Protocol Book of J. Scott 164.
To the rouperis for thichting of the haill hering vij s. 1629 Brechin Testaments IV 376.
James Burck [? erron. for Buick] officiar rouper of the said bed & speit 1695 Berw. Nat. C. XXXIII 4.
That non of the tread shall … buy skins from aney roupers or runners of the country(b) 1669 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III 108.
Thomas Urquhart, … ropper of the fisheing 1687 Ayr Chart. 205.
And for the better incuradgment of the ropers of the same [impositions], the … councell [etc.]
3. One who leases (land, etc.) at a public auction. 1694 Rothesay B. Rec. 493.
James Stewart rouper of the customes from Mertimes last to … Mertimes next who is lyable in payment of eighty punds therfore
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"Rouper n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rouper>
