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: 1718-1832, 1925, 1995
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DOUP, v.2, n.2 [dup]
1. v. (1) To bend, to duck (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff.2, Abd.2 1940; Slg. 1948 (per Abd.27); Ayr. 1913 W. Kissock Sc. and Eng. Poems); †to drop, to fall. Often used with doon. With ower: to fall asleep; cf. fall ower s.v. Fa, v., B. 9. (23) (a).Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems 182:
When Earth turns toom he [poet] rummages the Skies, Mounts up beyond them, paints the Fields of Rest, Doups down to visit ilka laigh-land Ghaist.Sc. 1746 R. Forbes Lyon in Mourning (S.H.S.) III. 54:
He had doupt into that affair without thinking as many others had done.Sc. 1820 Marmaiden of Clyde in Edb. Mag. (May) 92:
The knarlie aiks of a hunder years Cam doupan to the grun'.Abd. 1995 Sheena Blackhall Lament for the Raj 11:
Ontil a doontoun cafe it dowped
An plunkit itsel at the foun
Syne twa green men cam steppin ben
An luikit roon an roon.Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 90:
Jean doopit ower noo, as soun' as a tap.
†(2) Of the weather: "to lower, to become gloomy" (Lnk. 1825 Jam.2); of the day: to draw to a close; of darkness: to fall.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 57:
A crak an' chapen wi' a neighbour, Whan gloamin doupit he was eager.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 331:
Whan it doupeth dark, I'll kilt my coats.Lnk. 1825 Jam.2:
"The day is douping down," i.e. the gloom of night is beginning to approach.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage, etc. 205:
The boat rides south o' Ailsa craig In the doupin' o' the light.
†2. n. In phrs. (1) doup o' day (e'en), the close of day; obs. exc. poet.; (2) in a doup, in a trice.(1) Sc. 1718 Ramsay Chr. Kirk iii. x. in Poems (1721):
We down to E'ening Edge wi' Ease Shall loup, and see what's done I' the Doup o' Day.Knr. 1925 "H. Haliburton" Horace in Homespun 237:
And noo, in open parley, meet Our statesmen at the doup o' day.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 166:
Baith squadrons brangled owr the fell Till doup o' e'en.s.Sc. 1793 T. Scott Poems 319:
Weel pleas'd I, at the doup o' e'en, Slide cannie our the heugh alane.(2) Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems II. 230:
. . . . in a doup, They snapt her up baith Stoup and Roup.Cld. 1818 Edb. Mag. (Aug.) 155:
In a doup, by cam thousan's o' milk-white hunds, nae bigger nor whittrets, an' souchan as gin they had been a flaucht o' dows.
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"Doup v.2, n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/doup_v2_n2>
