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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HOPE, n.² Also hop (Lth. 1825 Jam.); howp (w.Fif.¹ 1920; Abd. 1957), houp. A small bay or haven (Lth. 1825 Jam.; Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Ork., Abd., Ags. 1957). Now current in place-names, e.g. St Margaret's Hope in Ork. and Fif. [hop, ‡hʌup]Ork. 1700 J. Wallace Orkney 8, 10:
To the North is St Margaret's Hope, a very safe Harbour. . . . Here are several good Harbours, as Kirk-hope, North-hope, Orehope, and others.Ags. 1733 Arbroath T.C. Minutes MS. (24 Oct.):
The Marches Betwixt the Toun and Kirktone that Rightfully Belongs to the Toun Beginning at the waar hope.Ork. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ XIX. 397:
It [Scalpa Flow] abounds with safe road-steads and fine harbours; such as . . . St Margaret's Houp, Pan Houp, and Long Houp in the Island of Walls.Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xii.:
A creek formed by the discharge of a small brook into the sea . . . It was called Wolf's-hope (i.e. Wolf's Haven).Crm. 1834 H. Miller Scenes 227:
The night and the hour were fixed when he should land his boat for me in the hope of the Sutors.Fif. 1860 H. Farnie Fife Coast 4:
This natural basin is called St Margaret's Hope, or shortly “The Hope,” and forms a splendid harbour of refuge.