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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Clasp, Clesp, n. Also: claisp, kleisp, clespt. [ME. clasp (c 1325), of obscure origin. See also Glasp n.]

1. A clasp.(a) c1475 Wall. viii. 1204.
A clos byrny with mony sekyr clasp a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 942.
The rede blude … followit the blaid … Throw claspis of clene gold 1546 Stirling B. Rec. I. 43.
The said Marioun to ... remane in ward within the Tolbuith quhill the claspis & calvill [sic] of irne devisit of befoir be maid, and thaireftir to be put and lokit on hir for xxiiij houris 1582–3 Misc. Spald. C. V. 55.
For iryne wark to the orlage, bak bandis and claspis 1603 Treas. Acc. MS. 275 b.
To … hir maiesteis mr. tailȝeour for threid, ballin, claspis, and rowis(b) 1601 Tailor's Acc. Bk. 16.
For ane buist and clesptis to this same goun 1603 Montgomery Mem. 245.
For ane par of balling sleis, … for thrid, … for clespes 1625 Brechin Test. IV. 183 b.
Auchtein hankis of kleispis, keiparis, & maillȝeis 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 303.
One byble … with siluer clespes 1695 Foulis Acc. Bk. 183.
To the smith … for helping the coatch wheells with clesps and naillsComb. 1586 Edinb. Test. XIV. 338.
Thomas Strudgeoun, clespmaker

2. pl. The name of a disease.‘An inflammation of the termination of the sublingual gland, … a disease of horses, generally occasioned by eating bearded forage’ (J). a1605 Montg. Flyt. 295 (T).
The coirdis, the colt evill, the claspis [v.r. claisps], and the cleikis