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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
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Skippar, -er, Schippar, -er, n.² Also: skippare, skyppar, -er, skippair, -eir, -eure, sc(k)ipper, skeipp-, skaipper, skipar, -er, -ear, -ir, scipar, scipr, skeper, skeipar, -er; schippare, -ir, shipper, schipar, shiper, sipir, (sphyppar), scheper. [ME and e.m.E. skypper (1390) a skipper (from Danzig, a Low-German-speaking city), skipper (1594), e.m.E. shypper (1553), late OE scipere, Frisian skipper, MDu., MLG schipper. Cf. also Dan. skipper, f. ON skipari; S(c)hip n.]

1. The seaman in overall command of a boat or ship; the captain or master of a ship. Also in fig. context. Also (once) comb. with -like.In some instances contrasted with maister and cap(i)tane. Cf. Maister n. 10, and notes. Also maister skiper, see Maister n. 10 (2). For many further examples, see Conv. Burghs and the Indexes to Treas. Acc.(a) 1496 Treas. Acc. I 310.
Giffin to the skippar of the schip callit the Ros a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 461.
The skippar bad ger land thé at the Bas 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 117.
To the Franch skippar that brocht hame Anthon Darse and his cumpany, for thair fraucht, vittales, and expens or tha com to the see 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 260. 1513 Doug. i iii 39.
Ane hydduus sey … Smate furth the skippar clepit Lewcaspis 1513 Doug. v iv 31.
[Gyas] Hym self, as skyppar, hynt the steir in hand 1525 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 221.
With the consent and assent of the maisteris and skipperis of Leyth 1531 Treas. Acc. V 444. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 714.
Than past the skipper, richt spedelie, Up to the top, … And saw it wes ane man of weir 1549 Treas. Acc. IX 336.
Robert Schaddowye, skippar in the Wemys 1557 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 15.
Walter Richardsoun capitane of the schip callit the Marie An, Thomas Wilsoun skippar and maister therof a1561 Norvell Meroure 57a.
Old Charon: that great skypper is of hell Had muche ado … to gyde his rother, To ferrye them 1566 Reg. Privy S. V ii 154/1.
The boittis of fischeing in Cullane quhairof Thomas Finlay is skippar 1588 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 56.
Skippeure 1602 Conv. Burghs II 137.
Gif ony within schip dar … mak ony leaugeis or bandis aganis the skipper [etc.] 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 34.
Skippair 1606 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 52.
The skipperis of Futtie … with thair wyffis and equippages, to cum to the kirk 1691 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 157.
The intestine and unnatural war against Montrose, when the maist part of the skippeirs and traffiquers were killed(b) 1528 Aberd. B. Rec. I 121.
All the quhit fischaris … baith maisteris, skiparis and seruandis a1578 Pitsc. I 252/2.
Scho [sc. the Great Michael] had ane thowsand men of weir by [= besides] hir captans, skipiris and quarter maisteris 1636 S. Leith Rec. 25/1.
The skipers to have the keay of the gramer scoole quhilk is the Leath Ternetie house 1691 Culross II 11.
Skipears(c) 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I ii 147.
All maisters, sckippers and mariners, indwellers in the said burgh of Dundee a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 52.
Scipar 1660 Greyfriars Interments 410.
Patrick M^cDoill, scipr 1665 Rec. of Old Tolbooth in Bk. Old Edinb. C. V 127.
David Greg scipper(d) 1590 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 18 July.
The boit that Johne Hillok is skeiper of 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 66b.
To the skeper xvi barellis [tar] 1601 Dundee Shipping P. 69 (8 June).
Skeipar 1601 Dundee Shipping P. 69 (8 June).
At the skeperis command 1607 Urie Baron Ct. 12.
In kais that oney of the beyttis keippeyche refwis the skeipper to gayng with hym to the sie salbe punddit(e) 1607 Old Ross-shire I 185.
Skaipperis(f) 1496 Treas. Acc. I 300.
Dauid Gourlay, schippare of the bark callit the Mary 1503 Treas. Acc. II 382.
To the schippar that brocht hame Maister James Merchamestonis tua hors 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 302.
For the schippir, xxij gret 1551 Hamilton Cat. 124.
As the schippar of a schip usis his compas for … the schippar … takis tent to the derectioun of his compas quhil he cum to ane gud havin 1559 Crail B. Ct. MS 23 Dec.
Adriane Leristoun sphyppar [sic] 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 295 marg.
James Wedderburn, schippar of Holand 1584 Gowrie P. 33.
Shipper 1587 Burntisland B. Ct. 27 Oct.
Patrik Jonstoun fremane schippar off ane schipp 1600-1610 Melvill 81.
In stappes Schipper Lindsay 1600-1610 Melvill 169.
Or ever our schipper wakned(g) a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 41.
Ane schip of Monros, Dauid Fowillarton schipar 1650 Lamont Diary 21.
Jhone Enster, a shiper in Enster(h) 1499 Halyb. 181.
To Rowll the scheper for … salt(i) 1673 Greyfriars Interments 182.
Sipirfig. a1538 Abell 121b.
He sais qhow ma the schep be perturbit quhare Petir is skipper quham Christ put the fundement of halie kirkcomb. 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 2.
We was tuise stoopt by men of war to know whither their ware any seamen in it [sc. the boat] that they might be sent to the fleet: at which we alleadged Captain Blawprine G. Moor was much troubled for he was exceeding skipper like

b. As part of the name of a vessel. 1436 Exch. R. IV 680.
In nave vocata Skippare Henry

c. transf. The leader of a company of people. 1581 Sat. P. xliv 149.
Dauidson ȝour poet that skipper crous can crau, Sua that he knau the iurnay to succeid

2. ? A seaman, sailor; in (2) ? joint-skipper.Cf. Pitsc. q. in 1 (b) above.(1) 1452 Exch. R. V 500.
Per allocacionem factam cuidam naute nuncupato Schippare with the berd(2) 1579 Inverness Rec. I 267.
James Robertson and Johne Dryeburne skipparis of the boit callit the Cristofeir