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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Kipper, n. Also: kippar, kyp(p)er, keppir, -er, keiper, kep-, keypyr. [ME. kiper (1376), e.m.E. kipper (c 1567), kepper (1533–4): also ME. (north.) kypre (1326) and OE. cypera prob. in the same sense.] A name given to the male salmon during the spawning season. b. Also attrib. with fish, salmont.(a) 1479 Reg. Cupar Abbey I. 227.
They shall maintain the fishing, for which they shall each give 30 dozen salmon and kypper 1503 Acts II. 242/2.
Anent slauchter of kippar. It is statute & ordanit anent the slauchter of red fische in foreboding tyme [etc.] 1512 Household Bk. Jas. IV 17 b.
For ane kypper xvi d. 1598 Stirling Ant. III. 308.
Ane kyper, … ij freshe salmond 1600 Acts IV. 230/2.
The slaying of salmond in forbiddin tyme or of kipper smoltis or sic blak fische at ony time sall be … ane cryme of thyift 1607 Reg. Great S. 702/2.
Interfectores … salmonum, lie kipper, nigrorum piscium, salarium, lie smoltis, fynnakis, et omnium salmonum ?1549 Monro W. Isles (Sibbald) 12.
Ane fresh water loch quhairupon thair is slane salmond and kipper 1623 Breadalbane Doc. MS. No. 456.
Sir George Hay … heretable keiper of the water of Tay … and also searcher … of quhatsumeuer persones slayeris of salmond, kipper and smoltis with nettis [etc.] 1680 Coll. Aberd. & B. II. 298.
There comes no salmon in this water but extraordinary much kipper, that is salmon in the forbidden time(b) 1510 Reg. Great S. 730/1.
Cum piscationibus, exceptis salmonibus, le keppir, et smoltis 1643 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 1.
The chairges … for repressing of blakfishers and slayers of kepper and smolts in forbiddin tyme(c) 1512 Household Bk. Jas. IV 13 b.
For a keiper xi d.b. (1) 1672 Argyll Justic. Rec. I. 14.
[Fined] for killing of kipper fish in xx lib. 1675 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I. 36 (31 March).
[Providing always that they do not] kill … any kipper fishe or keep wp lowps [etc.] … [at times prohibited by Act of Parliament](2) 1512 Household Bk. Jas. IV 2 b.
Coft i kepyr salmont pryce xiiii d. 1512 Ib. in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. x.
For ane keypyr salmont xx d.