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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.

S(c)hep(e, S(c)heip, S(c)hip, n. Also: chep, scep; s(c)heip(p)e, cheip, sceyp; s(c)heap, s(c)heep(e, sheepp, (seip); s(c)hiep(e; schap; s(c)hipe; schipp; schypt, (schyp-, scyp-, sip-); Chep(e. [ME and e.m.E. shep (c1200), scheap(e (Layamon), sep (c1250), schep, seop (both c1275), scepe (Cursor M.), schip (c1300), scip (c1310), sheep (Wyclif), schype (c1450), schyppe (c1460), shippe (a1470), OE (WSaxon) scéap, (Angl.) scép, (ONorthumb.) pl. scíp, scípo. 1261 Reg. Paisley 121.
In early use as a place-name element. — Juxta castrum meum de Schepehinche
1337 Rot. Sc. 493/1.
Quedam piscaria vocata Shepwell
1374–5 Reg. Great S. 222/2.
Omnes terras … de Schephalche in vicecomitatu de Strivelyne
c1143–7 Edinb. Chart. 6.
Scypwel
1165–1214 Liber Melros 16.
Schipwell
Ib. 17.
Sipwele
1262 Reg. Paisley 121.
Schyphinche
1375 Montgomery Mem. 13.
Schiphalch

I. 1. A sheep.Chiefly coll., uninfl. pl., also (rarely) infl. pl., and sing.coll. a1400 Leg. S. xxviii 84.
Scho nedit for to kepe Fore faut of helpe ilke day schepe
c1420 Wynt. ii 578 (C).
Thar nowte, thar schep, thar gayt
Ib. viii 1895 (R).
As bwndyn schepe in Ingland Thai he send
1472 Peebles B. Rec. I 168.
To kep Kadmowr to kow and kapyll … and the wester hill to chep
1482 Reg. Morton II 244. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. ix 36.
The pepele … war traualit and liand as schepe nocht hauand a schephird
1653 Peebles B. Rec. II 13.
Richard Porteous conduceit herd to keepe the tounes schep upon Venlaw
(b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2486.
The cure I tak it vpon me ȝour scheip to keip
1490 Irland Mir. III 141/13.
A gret … nowmer of pepile without ordinaunce … ar lik a multitud of scheip without ane hyrd
a1500 Bk. Chess 1319.
A wand to cher & kepe Fra corne & haye boith hors corne & scheipe
1512 Treas. Acc. IV 353.
To the scheiphird at kepit the Franche scheip
1526–7 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 83.
Thome Hesloipe … folluyt Thome of Breuhous for scheipe quhilkis var in constrye
1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II 11.
Excepand alwayis the fair of nolt and sheip
1531 Bell. Boece I xl.
The scheip that gangis on this montane ar yallo [etc.]
1535 Stewart 10860.
The Pechtis … thair fell … Als thik as scheip that lyis in ane fald
1537 Treas. Acc. VI 334.
For dryvyng of nolt and scheip to Coldinghame
1549 Compl. 39/5.
Quhen the scheip began to blait
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3852.
Gadtherit … to gidder As errand scheip bene with thare hirdis
1558 Black Bk. Taymouth 124.
Sceyp
1566 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun 102.
Thre birnyng irnes to nolt and scheip
1587 Acts III 519/2. 1596 Dalr. I 7/1.
Flockis of scheip or gait
Ib. 58/24, 25.
Nae kynd of cattail … excepte sum verie wylde, quhilkes to cal scheip or gait, or rathir nouthir scheip nor gait, we knawe nocht
?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 82.
Pabay, … ane frutfull, fertile mane ile full of corn and scheip
1616 Crim. Trials III 383.
In ane cleuch-syde, quhair the … scheip war lying in thair lairis
1629 Orkney & Zetl. Sheriff Ct. 13.
That nae man sall vse of sheip callet of auld the kings mark quhilk is both the luggis off
1641 Acts V 658/1.
That all sheip be marked with keill & not with tar or pick
1661 Misc. Spald. C. V 232.
Decernit … to fald thair haill guidis, both nolt and scheip, nichtlie
(c) 1544 Hist. Clan Gregor I 112.
All insy[cht] gude with in housis as of nolt and schap
(d) 1562 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 28.
That diverse persones in the country and to landwart … steales scheap
(e) 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Ora.
Scheep
1653 Peebles B. Rec. II 15.
That no indwelling burges pasture or put scheepe or nolt to the said landes, except they be their awne propper goodes
1668 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 15 Jan.
Sheepp
1684 Symson Descr. Galloway 74.
On which the bestial and sheep were folded the summer … before
1695 Acts IX 499/2.
A mercat for all kind of rough sheep to be holden yearly within … Carnwath
(f) 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Schireff.
All them quha transportis nolt, schiepe, or vther cattel furth of the realme
1685 Dunlop P. III 17.
Ther is good stor of kiene and shiep
(g) 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 107.
Thar wilbe of tendit woll this yeir of your schipe fyve stane
1566 Crail B. Ct. MS 2 July.
For schypt, gyse and swyne
a1578 Pitsc. II 266/4.
The cattell and schip pertening to thair enimyes
1584 Burntisland B. Ct. fol. 33b (June).
Certene guddis sic as schipp nowlt and hors
1651 Milne-Home MSS 102. 1691 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 409 (4 Oct.).
Ship
uninfl. pl. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 83.
Thame thocht … gude Ilke day to gyf hyme fude Twa schepe
1433 Ayr B. Ct. 4 May.
Ilka man sal haf … v schep til a som
1456 Montrose Baillie Ct. fol. 5a.
That thai sall hald but fowr & twintie off scheip on the saide grys
1465 Liber Dryburgh 278.
With comon pastur of iij hundreth schip
c1500 Fyve Bestes 379, 381.
In all this land thare is no schepe to get Within ten myle a mutone to ȝour meit Bot schepe and nolt distroyit ar & deid
1510 Reg. Privy S. I 321/2.
Thretty foure schepe stowin fra the lady Biris
1517 Grant Chart. 63.
jm scheip, ȝouis, scheip and wedderis
1526–7 Treas. Acc. V 318.
To a pur woman for iij scheip that the kingis rachis slew on Huntly wod xx s.
1553 Reg. Privy C. I 148.
[They] reft … thrette fyve hundreth scheip [etc.]
1559 Inverness Rec. I 32.
For the spulȝeingis of twe scep of his quhilkis wes gottyn in the said Williamis corne
1575–6 Lanark B. Rec. 71.
Ten cheip
1589 Edinb. Test. XXI 101b.
I leif Andro Gordounes lad tua scheipe
1605 Crim. Trials II 483.
He slew the said scheip … and thairefter careit the boukkis thairof to his awin hous
1628 Dumfries Test. Ia 171.
xxxv auld scheippe at xl s. the peice
Ib. 173.
Sheippe
1664 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 22 June.
I live hir … twentie shipe
1675 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 482.
Sheap
infl. pl. 1568 Waus Corr. 41.
Fowrscoir scheipis inwith fowr yeir auldis
?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 78.
In thir roch iles are infinite fair scheippis
sing. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2492.
Quha sayis ane scheip is daft, thay lieit of it
1482 Acta Aud. 100/2. a1568 Jok & Jynny 71.
Ane scheip weill keipit fra ill wedder
1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 18.
For the stowth of ane quhyt scheip of his nychbouris
c1604 Misc. Hist. Soc. II 246.
As to my schiep, I can not tell quhat it can be vurthe to me as yit, for if she thrayf, she vill multiple and incries if uther vays she be but bairane, I heff lost mor nor tuente schage [= fleeces] can be (vurthe) and I can sper that on amangs the rest
1636 Urie Baron Ct. 80.
To pay … for ilk sheip
1647 Ib. VI i 710/2.
Pryces of viweris … For ane sheip on foote the peece 50 s. for the bowk 40 s.
1658 in Strathbogie Presb. xiii.
Delait for brack of Sabbothe in bearing ane scheip upon his back from the pastur
1671 Salmon Borrowstounness 98.
Ane rugh sheip
(b) 1557 Inverness Rec. I 10.
Adjugit … to pay ane schip quhilk wes slayne be the wolf
sing. or pl. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1161.
Schir Corbie Rauin … Quha pykit had full mony scheipis ee
1641 Acts V 658/1.
That all wooll … shall be washin vpone the sheipes bak befoir it be clipped

b. The sheep as a type of meekness, timidity, passivity, harmlessness, etc. c. Hence, viewed as a contrast to a beast, or bird, of prey.b. a1400 Leg. S. xi 382.
Als meke as thai schepe bene had
c1420 Wynt. iv 508.
Thai … slwe thame downe as thai war schepe
a1500 Henr. Fab. 905.
The selie scheip
1535 Stewart 39586.
Tha war als blait and basit as ane scheip
15.. Clar. iii 1126.
That richt as scheip befor him [fast] they fled
c. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1152.
Ane fraudfull volff wes iuge … And on the scheip send furth ane strait summoun
Ib. 1164.
Schir Corbie Rauin … on the letteris bure, summonit the scheip
1549 Compl. 107/7.
That Scottis men and Inglis men … ar as indefferent as is the nature of scheip and voluis
1567 Sat. P. iv 192.
Mair nor the sheip in foxis companie
1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. (STS) 7/24.
Other thay be lyon or scheip quhobeit thay weare thair skinnes

d. Applied, dyslogistically, to a person. 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 121.
I fell to and abuse them in Scots, as logerhead, ye are a sheip, etc.

e. proverb. c1450 Sciennes Conv. Pref. l.
Lest one skabbed schepe infecte al the floke
a1570-86 Maitl. F. 52/111.
Quha is ane scheip the woulf will soune him hent
1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv Prol. 21.
A scabbit scheip wald fane infect the lave
a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1075.
Leip yeir was never a gude scheip yeir

2. Allusively, with reference to various scriptural passages representing God, or Christ, as a shepherd, and those under His spiritual care as sheep. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 995.
So sillye saulis, that bene Christis scheip Ar geuin to hungre gormande wolfis to keip
1533 Gau 104/6.
The blynd … pastors quhilk sekis bot the mylk and the wow of the scheip
c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 11.
The lowynge mercy of God opinly set fortht in the parabile of the hundreth scheipe
Ib. 13.
He … commandit Peter earnestly to feide His scheipe
1556 Lauder Off. Kings 321.
So suld ȝe cheis ȝour pastoris gude That hes the fouth of heuinly fude To satisfie the houngre scheip
1562-3 Winȝet II 7/9.
The scheip of Christis flok
1567 G. Ball. 119.
We Thy peple and scheip
a1568 Scott i 94.
Christis sillie scheip
1583 Sempill Warning xiv 2.
Haiffing that prince nov placitt in ȝour protection, Ane lamb of God ane saikles seip [? erron. for scheip] of seill Ȝe aucht to giff him counsale [etc.]
1611-57 Mure Psalmes c 3.
His people and the scheip Wee of His pasture bee
?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 142.
[The Bishop of Argyll] could not be understoode by his Highland sheepe without ane interpreter

3. Preceded by a defining noun indicating the sex, etc., of the sheep, or the particular purpose it is intended to fulfil.See also Dinmont n., Gimmer n., wedder, etc., for further instances. 1472 Peebles B. Rec. I 169.
Na schep … bot mylk schep
1476 Acta Aud. 50/2.
Withhalding … of … certain scheip callit the custume scheip
1497–8 Acta Conc. II 120.
Fifti sex weddris schepe … price of ilk wedder schepe vj s. viij d.
1531 Prot. Bk. J. Cristisone 19.
To pay … forty brood sheep of two years old, commonly called mailscheip
1540 Exch. R. XVII 275.
Lie draucht scheip
1547 Reg. Cupar A. II 236.
And attour sall keip als mony eittin scheip as ples my lord to send vp ȝerelye for thair gressum
a1570-86 Maitl. F. 424/180.
Ȝour onlie sone quha semed a slauchter scheipe
1619 Argyll Rentals I 2.
1 wedder scheip
1629 Justiciary Cases I 102.
The tua pett scheip lybellit
1670 Forbes Baron Ct. 280.
All tennentis that is lybill for peyment of custom sheip
1681 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 27 June.
A wether sheip

4. The carcase of a sheep prepared, or to be prepared, as meat; mutton. Also attrib. 1551 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 13.
That all land flesh be put at once to the mercat and na schiep be slitted down in the shulders
1563 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 187b.
The salt scheip ressauit in Kyrkcudbrycht
1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 407.
That the said flescheoures flay all thair scheip … vp throw the haill craig to the lugs
1593 Elgin Rec. II 34.
Jhone Tailȝeour confessit the breaking of a scheipe on Sondaye
Ib.
The selling of a quarter scheipe
1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 78.
Twa birskettis of ane scheipe
1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 67b.
Na man sould be hanged for sa meikill of stollen meat as he may beare in ane seck vpon his back: as for ane scheepe or ane calfe
attrib. 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 78.
Scho sta out of Jamis Erasmussonis skeo … quhyt dry scheipe pudding

II. attrib., possess. and comb. 5. Having to do with the care, enclosing, sheltering or protection of sheep. a. Of things. Also scheipgris ? pabsturage.For further instances see Flek n. and Lair n.1 1 b. See also Schepe-cote, Schepe-fald, Schepe-hous. b. Of persons, animals, or their activities.See also Schepehird n.Schip keiping, cf. Keping vbl. n. 1 or 2 b. c. Sheip doggis, a sheep dogge a dog trained to work sheep.a. (1) 1595 Edinb. Test. XXVIII 82.
Thrie dossoun scheip bellis at xx s. the dossoun
1627 Ib. LIV 134.
xij scheipe bellis pryce of all xxx s.
1632 Ib. LVI 24. a1500 Colk. Sow i 229.
Thoby Cariour him tuk To land with a scheip cruk
c1500 Makc. MS xiii 22.
Hoc pedium, a schipcruk
1585–6 Forres B. Ct. 31 Jan.
Ane he gett … passand done to the schipe cruk on the end of the commond land
1587 Carmichael Etym. 37.
Scheipcruik
1567 G. Ball. 92.
Thy staffe … And thy scheip huke me for to fang, Thay nurtour me
1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 122.
Annent thair scheipe mark, … everie ane of them to haife ane kenning mark by utheris that everie ane of them may ken thair scheipe
(2) 1628 Banff Ann. I 60.
Ane scheip criff biggit on the Gallowhill
1550 Prot. Bk. R. Rollok 20.
Ane fald quhair the said Wat hed sum tyme ane scheipdike
1586 Montrose Baillie Ct. 26 Nov.
The scheipis girse roupit
1602 Montrose Treas. Acc. 10.
The scheipgris and standfauld vij li. xiij s. iiij d.
1605–6 Montrose Treas. Acc. 1.
The scheippes girss and stand fald extendis to ix lib.
1682 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 9 June.
[Owing] be Bessie Rae for schieps gras 40 s.
1664 Fraser P. 158 (see Schepe-cote n.).
Scheip ruiff
1566 Reg. Privy S. V ii 145/1.
The tua scheip steidingis pertening and adjacent thairto
1581 Reg. Great S. 83/2.
Spoutwollis et lie scheipsteiddis, lie manys ac villam, terras et acras de Scone
Ib.
Lympottis et lie scheipsteidis (omnes subtus aquam de Yla)
1612 Ib. 239/2.
Lie scheipsteidis, pasturas, predia et privilegia pasturarum
1631 Ib. 605/1.
Lie scheipsteidis de Balbuchty
1668 Retours I Inq. Spec. Forfar (435).
Lie sheipsteids, pasturis et privilegiis pasturarum olim ad abbates de Scone pertinentibus
b. (1) a1568 Pedder C. 51.
That pedder brybour, that scheip-keipar
a1578 Pitsc. II 282/18.
Thocht he var nocht leirned … mair nor he that new come fra the schip keiping
c1590 Fowler II 134/36.
Maximenus … being bot a sheip keper in Thracia
(2) 1670 Corshill Baron Ct. 91.
The laird … ordaines Allane Wyllie … to hang his dogg, in respect he is knowne to be ane sheep wirrier
c. 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 103.
The keiping and halding of scheipe dogis by the actis
1615 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bks. 66.
Anent sheip doggis … it is … ordanit that it sall not be lesum to ony man to keip she[ip] doggis bot sick persones as salbe aproven … be the bailie … and for the quhilkis doggis they sal[be] haldin to answer
1623 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. in Misc. Maitl. C. II 198.
That it sall not be leisum to any man at any tyme of day … to goe through his neighbours clogange [pr. ologange] or comountie with ane sheep dogge except he be accompanyed with tua neighbouris

6. Having to do with a. The body or carcase of a sheep, or b. The products or by-products obtained from sheep.See also Schepe-hede, Schepe-ledder and S(c)hep(e)-skin.a. (1) 1698 Hector Renfrewshire Rec. II 150.
Sheep bones
1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 306.
The scheip bouk iiij merkis, … the muttoun bouk xx shillingis
1658 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 208.
[17 s. for a] scheip bouk
1597 Household Bks. Jas. VI and Anne 6 Nov.
Ane pund sewat scheipbreidis
1631 Buccleuch Household Bk. 25 Sept.
For 8 scheip feite
Ib.
For penschis and scheip feit
1622 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 275.
Patrik Maxvell … in xlv s. for scheip licht bocht
1627 Galloway P. 3 Jan. 1675 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 37 (27 Jan.).
[½ stone of] sheip light, [6 fowls, and 1] fastrevenes henn
(2) 1550 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 12.
That the heid of the mutton be brought with the schieps bouk
1599 Household Bks. Jas. VI and Anne 18 Aug.
Ane scheipis vsche
b. (1) 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 110.
For ane stane of schip tauch to lay on the muld of the gwn
Ib. 136.
Scheip tauch to the gunnis
1541–2 Treas. Acc. VIII 124.
For … ule de olyve … and for walx and scheip talloun … to lay upoun the harnes for kepeing thairof fra roust
1548 Banff Ann. I 23.
That the stane of scheip tawcht be sauld for xii d.
1561 Inverness Sheriff Ct. 76.
The scheip tacht pertenyng to the town … of Inglistoun
1570 Elgin Rec. I 123.
Schip tallown … xiiij s. the stan
1597 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 389. 1601 Dunblane Test. III 35.
Scheiptalloun price of the stane xl s.
1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 14 May.
Margaret Horniscleuch … cureit him by ane bath of agrimonie and blak scheipis creisch
(2) 1567 Edinb. Test. I 58b (see Ledderin adj. (1) (b)).
Scheip leddren gluiffis
1656 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 55.
Sheep wooll
(3) 1597 Crim. Trials II 28.
Scho causit to bath hir lunȝie with scheippis doung
15.. Nat. Lib. MS 22, 2, 11.
Taik … sheipis dunge … put it upon ane woolen cloth and maik it so hoat as the child can be abill to tholl it
(4) 1662 Crim. Trials III 605.
When we tak away any cowes milk, … draw the tedder … in the Divellis name. … we tak sheips milk ewin so

7. Having to do with the marketing or sale of sheep.(1) 1603 Edinb. B. Rec. V 323.
Ane fyve yeir tak of the scheipstands at the west port
1609–10 Ayr B. Acc. 242. 1655 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 380.
Being ane unlawfull place for keiping of ane sheip mercatt
1681 Acts VIII 443/1.
Two free faires in the year at … Giffart … the uther … to be called the sheep fair
(2) Ib. 381.
The masters of the said flocks of sheip and sheip sellars or sheip buyars
(3) 1676 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 26 April.
Fyftie shilling … restand of sheep pryce

8. In other, special, combinations.Scheep buik, a book bound in leather made from sheep-skin. Scheip(is) cullour. Cf. Schepis hew attrib., Schepis-hewit adj. Sheep-dead, sheep-rot. Sheep-drawne, ? delineated to resemble a sheep, sheeplike. Scheip-girs, tormentil. Sheep kaid, see Kaid n. (the sheep louse). Sheip meall, see Male n. 2, quot. Peebles B. Rec. Scheip siluer, (1) ? money obtained from the sale of sheep; (2) only in Shetland: money paid to a superior in commutation of an exaction previously paid in sheep. Sheep stool, appar. a support or bench of some sort. — (1) a1688 Wallace Orkney 16.
A disease call'd the sheepdead, which is occasioned by great quantities of little animals like to flouks … which are engendered in the liver
(2) 1595 Black Bk. Taymouth 297.
Compt of merttis and bullis sauld. … Resauit be the laird … of the scheipe siluer in Finlarig [£66 17 s. 4 d.]
1629 Monteith Stewartrie Ct. 11 June.
Anent the sowme of four merkis Scottis money of the rest of scheipsiluer conform to the clame
1624 Orkney & Shetl. Test. I 122b.
The said vmquhill Patrik was restand awand in watle & sheip siluer xxxj s. iiij d.
1625 Ib. 147b.
The said vmquhill Issobell and hir said spous war restand awand … in sheip siluer iiij s.
c1650-1700 Descr. Zetland 19.
And their land-duties payed partly to the king by scatt, wattell, langer, ox-silver, sheep-silver, &c.
(3) 1668 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 20 (1 Feb.).
One scheep buik 36 schilling
(4) 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII 365.
[In the Brewhouse] … 2 trowes [troughs]. A sheep stool [Scots cuddie = ‘horse’, support, trestle]. A wort dish
(5) 1580 Edinb. Test. IX 52b.
Inglis claith of scheip cullour … the elne xxxij s.
attrib. 1572 Edinb. Test. II 240.
Ane pece scheip colour Londoun claith
1576 Ib. IV 133.
Fyne scheip cullour claith price of the eln xxxv s.
1601 Tailor's Acc. Bk. 21b.
Your ryding cloik of scheipis cullour
1617 Edinb. Test. XLIX 297b.
Thretteine elnis … matherit schip cullorit Lundoun claith
(6) 1500-1699 Herbarius Latinus Annot. cxlv (Adv.).
Tormentilla, scheip girs
(7) 1633 Lithgow Poet. Remains 112.
Yea, some-where there's lord baillie, and men must Vpon his sheep-drawne shaddow lordship thrust

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