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

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

Troup(e, Troop(e, Trip(e, n. Also: troupt, trowp(e, trowpt, trup, truipt, trype. [ME and e.m.E. trip (Manning), tryppe (a1400), trippe (c1410), troupe (1545), troope (1584), F. troupe, OF trope, late L. troppus.]

1. A herd or flock of animals.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 744.
Vnder ane tre he saw ane trip of gait a1500 Henr. Fab. 1044.
Ane trip of lambis dansand on ane dyke a1500 Henr. Fab. 1409.
Swa come ane trip off myis out off thair nest 1513 Doug. iii iv 24.
And trippis eik of gait, but ony kepar(b) 1580 Hume Promine 100.
Into the park did properlie appeir, Richt trimlie trottand into trowpis and twais, The wilde quhite cullourit ky c1590 J. Stewart 66/37.
As quhan ane troup of porcks … quhryns vith pitius bruit and beir 1596 Dalr. I 20/1.
For the hartes of nature ar giuen to this, that gif thair leidar fal amang the midis of his ennimies … thay al in ane troupe without feir followe

b. comb. With hirsill, the pasturing of all the animals belonging to an individual separately. Also to keip (animals) in triphirsill. 1639 Broxmouth & Pincarton Baron Ct. 7 May.
Everie ane … keipes ther guiddis of nolt and scheip in triphirsill to thame self it is therfoir statute and ordanit that the haill ky of the toun be keipit in ane hirsill and the scheip alltogidder in another hirsill and that no triphirsill be keipit 1663 Melrose Reg. Rec. II 67.
That non pastur ther goods in tripe hirsells but that all be put to the comon hird

2. A number of persons, etc. together; a band, company, group. b. A large quantity, mass (of something).(a) 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 57.
Was thair nane uther in all the troupe of the Youth of nobilitie besyde him 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 142b.
Ane sure common vay of iustification quhilk is not as ȝit expressit be ony of this troup c1590 J. Stewart 137 § 4.
Dianas troup mycht bathe them vneffrayt In ane depurit siluer spring 1596 Dalr. I 179/22.
The king wardet, … invades him a troupe of harneste man and suddenlie is he slane 1596 Dalr. II 193/31.
Our folkis, in hope to obteine the hous, in troupis rinis to, bot agane ar dung doune a1605 Montg. Sonn. viii 9.
Come, troup of tuinis, about his temple tuyn Ȝour laurell leivis with palmis perfytly plet(b) 1611 Aberd. B. Rec. II 305.
The craftismen pinsellis … are placeit in ane truipt in the fute of the companieb. 1571 Glasgow Chart. I ii 146.
Throw the oft invndationis, greit fludis and stormis that hes occurrit and discendit doun the watter in tyme of frost … the said brig hes bene sa troublit, dung down and dampnageit with greit trowpis of this that [etc.]

3. specif. A company of fighting men, freq. cavalry.(a) 1559 Cal. Sc. P. I 285.
[We are within 3 miles of the enemy, and will abide so long as we can hold 20 horse together]. The lord favoris so this lytill trowp [etc.] c1590 Fowler II 78/16.
Bot if in place of colonyeis the prence vald entertenye troupes of hors and bands of fit men, he suld spend mair 1639 Johnston Diary Ia 36.
The generall … desyred them to make up ane troup of horse 1644 Acts VI i 127/1.
That ther shall be tuo troupes of horse leveyed for keiping of the north in peace and quyetnes 1644–5 Aberd. B. Rec. IV xviii.
To Captane Mortimer, for meat that his trowpt inlaikit for want of quarters 1649 Old Ross-shire I 35.
Ane comittee … for settling in quarters the troup of Colonell Ads c1650 Spalding II 373.
Ane horss troupt of the Marques of Argile's 1653 Dunferm. Ann. 328.
Sundrie Inglish troupes both of the horse and foote that were coming into the toun 1654 Chron. Perth 43.
Some troupis of drawgounis(b) 1653–4 Peebles B. Rec. II 195.
On Tuesday quhen the trupperis cam in, commandit under Quisiltounes trup(c) 1627 Kellie Pallas Armata 24.
This posture, advance or mount your picke … is to bee used in a troope, and in exercising their motions 1684 Misc. Maitl. C. III 77.
A kettle-drummer to the colonells own troop 1689 Acts XII 56/2.
A regiment of horse to consist of 4 troups 40 masters in each troop 1689 Glasgow Chart. II 394.
[The] High Park of Glasgow [to be] hained and keeped until 11^th June next for the use of the troopes of horse(d) a1578 Pitsc. II 157/32.
Think not it wilbe ane trype [v.r. troup] of men of weir of France that will … conqueis this realme

b. pl. Fighting men (once, women), soldiers; armed forces, generally. 1585 Gray Lett. & P. 65.
He is desyrous for sum troupes in quantitie 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i 566.
But see! see how Penthesilea leads Her Amazonian trowpes to Troye's supplie! 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 161.
The Vicount of Gordoun [etc.] … resolue to tak armes: they goe to feild with the troupes, they put garison in Terride 1640 Anal. Scot. I 384.
The general being on the heid of our troupes

c. attrib. With hors. 1638 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. XVII 343.
To Robert Dikson for his troup hors £50 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 1.
The troupe horsis to be leviat furth of the Stewartrie for the service of the publict 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 37.
For not out-putting of the troupe and baggage horsis ilk ane of thame for thair awn pairtes 1644 Edinb. Test. LXI 2.
Ane troup hors 1678 Fawside Coal Compt 25.
John Milkom for the troupe horse, 9 s.