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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Scalp, Scaupe, n. Also: skalp, scalpe, scawpe, skaup, skawp, scap(e, skap(e, skaipe; scaap; sclap, (sclop). [North. ME and e.m.E. scalp (a1300), also scawpe (1541), ? of Scand. origin. Cf. ON skálp-r a sheath, Dan. dial. skalp shell, husk.]

1. The top, or crown, of the head. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1034.
With brokin skap [Bann. scalp] and bludie cheikis reid, This volff weipand on his wayis went c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 116/52.
To hede of kyn, bot I wait nought Quis est ille, than I schrew my scawpe [B. skape, M. scaupe] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2485 (B).
Howbeid I se thy skalp skyr skawd 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. fol. 20a.
Iis brek thy skaipe lytill foull aipe 1608 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 62.
He saw him cast hir on the scalpe and saw na bluid 1637 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 550.
Saying that he should gair the scape of William McClellane

b. ? The crown (of the road). 1578 (1659) Dumfries Fleshers 30 Sept.
Vnles he duell within the liberteis of this burgh & scalp of the calsay

2. ? A bare piece of rock standing out from surrounding vegetation; ? a small bare knoll. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 144 (L).
Na gers nor herbys wer visibyll Bot skauppis brynt with blastis boryall

b. attrib. Bare, stony, rocky. 1536–7 Sc. Hist. Rev. VII 360.
The saidis landis is a dry hard skalp ground

3. A bank on which has formed a colony of shell-fish, esp. mussels or oysters; an oyster or mussel-bed or colony.For further instances see Mussil(l)-scalp n. and Oyster n.(a) 1496 Forres Chart. MS (see Mussil(l)-scalp n.).
Mussil skawpis 1521 Aberd. B. Rec. I 98.
That … nan … pull, gader nor away tak nane of the mussillis nor kokillis now begingin to gader one ane now skap … for yeir and day, that the forsaid skap be perfectly growing 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 16 Dec.
The preserruation of the mussill scaap. … The said James … had revin wp the stringis of the mussillis & broken the scaap thairoff 1612 Acts IV 516/1.
The linkis of Sanctandrois … with the mussill scap c1660 Old Ross-shire I 229.
Infeft and seasit in … skalpes within the sea mark wrak and weare 1664 Edinb. B. Rec. IX 340.
Dutch vesselis have repaired hither in so great abuondance that the furneissing them hath mutch brokin the verie scapes 1666 Old Ross-shire II 83.
Skippers [of two boats] … inactit … to pay … for ther bygone transgressione done to the scakkes [? erron. for scappes] 1672 Retours I Inq. Spec. Elgin et Forres (128).
Mussill scalpes 1687 Lauder Notices Affairs II 829.
In regard of the scarcity … of oysters and their scalps 1711 Old Ross-shire II 86.
On Monday there cam three Morray boats to the tounes mussall sclaps(b) 1536 Kirkwall Chart. 8.
Nostrum burgum … cum omnibus sclopis infra eundem et pertinentibus ad eundem