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

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Trap, Trape, Trop(e, n.¹ Also: traip, trapp. [ME and e.m.E. trappe (14th c.), trap (1470-85), OE treppe, træppe, OF trape, med. L. trappa, MDu. trappe a trap, snare; MDu. trappe a step of a stair, MLG trappe, treppe, troppe a flight of steps, a stair, Norw. dial. trapp, tropp, MFlem. trap, also in the later dial.]

1. a. A trap, specif. consisting of a trap-door let into a floor; a trap-door giving access to a loft. b. A ladder or stair giving access to a trap-door. c. ? A door similar to a above but in a vertical plane, ? a door flush with its surroundings, as, a small door let into a larger door or ? the door of a coach. d. attrib.a., b., c. 1460 Hay Alex. 18142, 18150.
A galery stude apoun Eufraces … Thare war sere trappis in the galery … He … tocht till steill away all prevely … And tocht to latt him-selff doun at a trope [pr. tr[a]pe] 1563–4 Edinb. Old Acc. I 469.
For vj greitt garrownis to be interdaillis and gavill bandis to the stairs, tua cais wyndois and tua trappis 1563–4 Edinb. Old Acc. I 470.
For making of tua trappis and cleithing of thame 1568 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 6a.
For making an trap to the pulpet in the tolbuith—x s. 1582 Treasurer's Accounts MS 83.
Twa grite corbellis of aick to be ane trap to the stable loftis 1599 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 713.
Ane skair of a daill ane to the trap that is within the kirk 1603 Treasurer's Accounts MS 276.
Reid veluote to mend the trap of the cosche 1603 Treasurer's Accounts MS 276.
Irnework and saidler work to the cosche and for mending of the trap thairof 1610 Hilderstoun Silver Mines II 86a.
Four daill to be ane trap for the new furnace 1624 Old Dundee I 418.
Be the malicious casting up daily of the door of the entry to the trein trap [leading to her hous; … ] they … decerned … Jonet … to hold upon … the door at the foot of the trein trap ane … cord [etc.] a1651 Calderwood II 313.
The king went up to the queen's chamber from his owne by a privie staire or trap 1675 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 27 Nov.
For making a trap to the open cast 1692 Lanark B. Rec. 241.
The baillies and counsell have condescended to build two stairs without the Laigh Kirk to answear the lofts, and that upon the voyd roume quhair the traps now stand 1705 Foulis Acc. Bk. 372.
[To] make a trap to winn to draw the paces of the knock in the stair(b) 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 289/9.
At a trape … within hire chalmare that was abone the walter thai ware lattyn fall doun, quhar thai ware drownyt 1582 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 121.
For … tua cuttis of aikin tymmer to be … duire cheikis vndir the noirth traip 1625 Edinburgh Testaments LIII 114b.
Ane trape of fir pryce xxvj s.(c) 1460 Hay Alex. 18150 (see above).
Trope a1540 Freiris Berw. 113 (B).
Vp thay went … In till a loft … Scho … Closit the trop [M. trap] and thay remanit still a1540 Freiris Berw. 285, 292 (B).
Sone the trop the madin oppinit … And bad thame baith cum doun … witht that word thay start vp … And doun the trop delyverly thay come 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I 246.
For making of the gryt dowbill durris of the presoun hous and ane trope of the enteres of the samin(d) c1570 Lennox Mun. 277.
The dur that gais up at the trap heid fra the hall dur 1614 Ayr B. Acc. 62.
For twa chosin daillis to mend the trapp entrie [pr. trap pentrie] of his Maiesteis loft in the kirk 1698 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 263.
A petition … shewing he be makeing ane trap stair within his owne drope for the more conveniencie of his house … they [sc. the council] find that the petitioner designs to build his timber trap stair farder out upon the closs then the front of the timber foir stair [etc.]

2. A mouse-trap. a1500 Henr. Fab. 251.
Off cat, na fall, na trap [Asl. trape], I haue na dreid