Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1805, 1943-1993
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CUMPER, Kumper, Comper, n. Applied either to the father-lasher, Acanthocottus bubalis or to the allied species, A. scorpius (Sc. 1920 (per Mry.2), cumper; Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl., comper, 1929 Marw., kumper, Ags. 1927 (per Ags.1), cumper). [′kʌmpər]Ork. 1805 G. Barry Hist. of Ork. 291:
The Fatherlasher (cottus scorpius, Lin. Syst.) or, as it is here named, the comper.Abd. 1993 Fraserburgh Herald 10 Sep 2:
These rigs enclose 20% of the best fishing grounds. Saithe also breed in untouched shallow coastal waters. I counted 300 piries and 60 cumpers in half an hour entering one small harbour with the tide.Bch. 1943 W. Spence Forsyth Guff o' Waur 60:
The Ronnie Twins John Drummond gairds and lats him fill his wyme Wi' labsters, craibs and cumpers that they scare.
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"Cumper n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/cumper>
