A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1494-1530
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(Sinoper,) Synoper, n. Also: synopeir, -par(e, synaper, -par, -pir, sinapir, senopir. [Late ME zinopre (Lydgate), synopre (c1450), e.m.E. synoper (1510), sinoper (1565), synapour (1573), synaper (1688), OF sinopre (c1138 in Larousse) (F. sinople), L. sinōpis, f. the Gk.]
1. Some indeterminate shade of the colour red.Appar. ‘reddish-brown’ in the Doug. quot., unless there is confusion here with cinnamon. 1494 Loutfut MS 148 b.
He beris gold synoper & goulis profes 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 57.
Fyschis … With fynnys schynand brovn as synopar 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1112.
Hir moste heuinly hewis, gold, asure, gowles, purpour, and synopeir
2. A type of red earth used as a pigment. Also synapir de layk, ? = pigment obtained by the combination of ‘sinoper’ with an animal, vegetable or coal-tar colouring matter (see OED Lake n.6 3).(1) 1501 Treasurer's Accounts II 63.
Bocht to David Prat, payntour … ij unce synapir xvj d. 1502 Treasurer's Accounts II 69.
Sinapir 1505–6 Treasurer's Accounts III 184.
Synapar 1507 Treasurer's Accounts IV 87.
Synaper 1514 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 236.
[2 oz.] lie okment, [2 oz.] lie senopir(2) 1506 Treasurer's Accounts III 201.
Half ane vnce synapir de layk v s.
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"Sinoper n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sinoper>
