Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1741-1934
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ROUP, v.2, n.2 Also roupe, roop, rup-; rowp. [rup; occas. rʌup]
I. v. 1. To cry in a hoarse persistent manner as does a crow, to croak (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., rowp; ne.Sc., w.Lth., Ayr. 1968). Also in Eng. dial.Sc. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xxii.:
The innocent is rouping like a corbie.Per. 1842 R. Nicoll Poems 227:
The corbies 'mang the rocks are roupin'.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders xxvii.:
I only rooped like a rough-legged fowl.Abd. 1920 R. Calder Gleanings I. 12:
Roupin like a heedie craw.
Hence ppl.adj. roupin, hoarse, bronchial; a roupin hoast, a bronchial cold (Abd.4 1928).
2. tr. To make hoarse or husky.Dmf. 1823 J. Kennedy Poems 76:
Ye burdies, wail in waefu' notes, Till grief hae roopit a' your throats.
Ppl.adj. roupit, roopit, rupit, rowpit, -et, -ed, hoarse, rough, raucous (Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems Gl.; Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ayr. 1910; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Slg., m.Lth., Lnk. 1968). Comb. roopit cough, whooping cough (Rxb. 1942 Zai). Also in n.Eng. dial.; in regard to the chest: congested, choked with phlegm. Also with up.Ayr. 1786 Burns Earnest Cry ii.:
Alas! my roupet Muse is haerse!Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel xv.:
He spoke as hoarse as a roopit raven.Slk. 1831 Hogg Poems (1874) 361:
For the raven's grown hoarse wi' the waughtin' o' blood, Oh listen, auld carle, how roopit his note!Knr. 1887 H. Haliburton Puir Auld Scot. 168:
The minister grew hearse an' roopit.Kcb. 1897 T. Murray Frae the Heather 157:
He left a cure he thinks will clean My roopit breast.Ags. 1901 W. J. Milne Reminisc. 292:
A grane like a sair roupit craw.Gall. 1912 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 291:
He was roopit up wi' the cauld.w.Sc. 1934 “Uncle Tom” Tea-Pairty 50:
I thocht ye was speakin' as if ye was a wee kinna roopit.
¶3. intr. To become husky, to lose one's voice.Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms lxxvii. 1:
I skreigh't until God, till I roopit.
II. n. 1. Freq. with def. art.; hoarseness, huskiness, any inflamed condition of the throat (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis, 1808 Jam.; Cai., Abd., Per., Fif. 1968). Also in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1741 S.C. Misc. (1842) 24:
Now I have a great roupe or hoarseness.Abd. 1768 in A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 5:
O may the roupe ne'er roust thy weason!Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 183:
To fleg frae a' your craigs the roup, Wi' reeking het and crieshy soup.
Hence derivs.: roupie, -y, roopy, rupy, hoarse, rough, husky (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Uls. 1953 Traynor; n.Sc., em.Sc.(a), m.Lth., wm.Sc., Wgt. 1968). Adv. roupily; roupiness; hoarseness. Also in Eng. dial.Ayr. 1792 J. Little Poet. Wks. 162:
If I should strain my rupy throat.wm.Sc. 1837 Laird of Logan 159:
I would tak' ye to be but young cocks by your roupy craw, lads.Ags. 1887 A. D. Willock Rosetty Ends 195:
Geordie was a hantle roupier than usual.Kcb. 1897 Crockett Lochinvar v.:
The roopy chuckle of disturbed poultry.wm.Sc. 1907 N. Munro Daft Days xxxi.:
Chanticleers in the town crowed roupily.Abd. 1900 C. Murray Hamewith 36:
Up an' doon the tablin' wi' a gloatin' roupy hoast.Lth. 1915 J. Fergus The Sodger 18:
An' it wasna just the roupiness o' yin that's ta'en to drink.Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 56:
His hoast was whiles fell roupy.
2. A disease affecting poultry in the mouth or throat, a form of purulent catarrh (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Orig. Sc., now adopted as a veterinary term in Eng.Sc. 1862 F. Blair Henwife 90:
Roup is highly infectious, and a very deadly disease.
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"Roup v.2, n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/roup_v2_n2>
