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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Scap(e, Scaip(e, Schap(e, v. Also: skape, skaip(e; sckip-; schaip; schepe; Chape v.¹. [Early ME scapien (Layamon), ME and e.m.E. scap(e (Cursor M.), skape(n (Manning), schape (c1450), aphetic var. of Escape v.]

1. intr. To escape (from (out of) captivity, prison, servitude, etc.); to gain liberty. = Eschape v. 1.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2947.
Wenand sum man … His son … Had lattin scape [pr. stape] out of presoun 1456 Hay I 227/8.
He sall pay him ane hundreth thousand frankis or he scape out of his handis 1611-57 Mure Psalmes cxxxix 7.
Where from thy spirit shall I scaipe?(b) 1590 Cal. Sc. P. X 323.
To remayne in suer ward … and not to schap forth of the same(2) 1456 Hay I 121/10.
[He] gert put to dede a chiftane … becaus and he had scapit, he wald nocht have cessit to mak him starkare were than before ?a1500 Rosw. & Lillian 100.
That the three lords were scaped thus a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 430.
Thow scapis in France to be a knycht of the felde c1590 Fowler I 390/5.
Think not to scape for … Thou there shall be condemn'd as well as I(b) a1400 Leg. S. iii 216.
The juge … dange hym in a dongeone depe That he na schapit

2. To escape from (fra, of) danger. = Eschape v. 2.(a) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 169/71 (M).
The theif sayis that ewer I scaip Na ane stark widdie gar me gaip 1540 Lynd. Sat. 627 (Ch.).
Now am I scapit fra that effray 15.. Christis Kirk 88 (Laing MS).
Bot he skaped by the nights [M. michtis] of Marie 15.. Clar. ii 325.
Him … That so had skaipit betuix the bow and string c1578 Reid Swire 129.
Young Henrie skaipit home is hurt A souldier shot him with a bow a1578 Pitsc. II 54/4.
Ȝeit he sckipit at that tyme 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 726.
He beand scapit of that danger, Hame through he past 1604-31 Craig iii 18.
For her pryde but punishment skaips free 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 245/404.
Faine thay uaire to skaipe thaime selfis(b) 1460 Hay Alex. 3852.
And tocht gif he sould schape it hed bene schame a1500 Henr. Fab. 2373.
The husband … wes fane he schaippit from thair ill c1515 Williamson in Doug. (Sm.) I p. xxvi.
In the gretest danger that eny man mycht be in and schape with his lyff 15.. Clar. iii 712.
This lady … Full pitiouslie did weipe … Beseikand God to send hir help … To schape out of that dreidfull wildernes c1475 Wall. (1570) vii 1070.
Thair schaipit nane of all that greit nauy 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl 163.
Quhen quene and court could not get him conuict … Thay fryit in furie that he schaipit quick

3. tr. To escape (danger, suffering, etc.); to get safely away from. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 358.
And thus the scorne and the scaith scapit he nothir 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 705.
To scape the fray he was so fane [etc.] 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i 225.
My mortall foes new scaip't the Graecian sword 1622 Innes Sketches 517.
And you … schuld skaipe bothe gutt and wther diseissis 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 56.
We, who scapt those grievous crosses, Did hide our selves in bogs and mosses(b) 1560 Breadalbane Letters MS No. 4.
I am … sik … and tinkis nocht to schepe parrall of my lyf 1573 Davidson Sat. P. 134.
He prayit … that ȝe micht turne That ȝe micht schaip eternall schame

b. Of a thing: To escape (a person's) notice. 1611-57 Mure Psalmes cxxxix 15.
My firmer substance scaipt thee not In secreet when forth broght By thee