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 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Warpin(g, vbl. n. Also: warpine, -ene, wairpeing, werping, worping. [ME and e.m.E. warpyng, worpyn (both 15th c.), warpynge (Prompt. Parv.), warping (1583).]

1. A timber strut or brace used for strengthening a piece of furniture, (part of) a building, etc. Also attrib. 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 180.
To the gret galre warping ruiff of the samyn the ii gret prikis ruffis kiching ruffis … v dosone of xxviii futis lynth square tymmer 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 184.
Aikin tymmer of sindry sortis brocht up for the galre ruif warping of the chapell deskis and chancelry wall … lvi s. 1591 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 431.
In making the said parpell wall … ane lang rib of spar … to be warping thair to 1622 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 147.
viii doubill rufe sparres for warping to the wardrop pressisattrib. 1633 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 367.
To … the wrichtis for setting of the warpine timber of the new stabilles ane quart aill

2. The action of preparing a warp thread for weaving. 1588 Perth Kirk S. in Lawson Bk. Perth 181.
The Sabbath-day was broken in his house by his wife in warping ane web thereon 1704 Foulis Acc. Bk. 356.
For warping a web to be ryding coatts 14 s. 6 d.(b) 1697 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 168.
For werping and sowing my holland £1 … For working my holland … £26 10 s.(c) 1662 Stirling B. Rec. I 240.
The saids proveist, baillies and councill … discharges them … from litting any plaid yairn, and from worping and working any that shall not be of the lenth and breidth abone writtin

b. attrib. Wairpeing aill, a drink given to the person who has prepared the warp thread for weaving. Warping fat, a container in which the yarn is laid before warping. Warping staik, one of the wooden sticks which yarn is wound around in warping.(1) 1673 Melrose Reg. Rec. II 342.
The baillie graunts the supplicatione … for wairpeing aill 3 s. 4 d. for the wouln yearne and yet unwairped(2) 1564–75 Hamilton & Campsie Test. I 29a.
Ane peyrne quheill and ane warping fat 1565 Prestwick B. Rec. 69.
Ane warpene fat 1568 Edinb. Test. I 182a.
Ane warpin fatt with the staikis and the ringis pertenand to thame 1595 Brechin Test. I 128b.
Tua webster lwmes … ane warping fat ane pirneing quheill(3) 1623 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 242.
His worklumes … extending to auchtein quheilles, ane flaik, ane warping staick … tua kames for sayes [etc.] 1624 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 259.
Ane pair of warping staiks, ten flaiks for drying wooll [etc.]