Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Lap, v.¹ P.t. and p.p. lappit, etc.; p.p. also lappin, (Doug.) lap. [ME. lappe(n (a 1300), earlier (c 1200–25) bi-lappe, -leppe, appar. f. Lap n.]

1. tr. To fold or wrap (a garment or the like): const. about, and absol. In p.p. Also Over-lappit ppl. a. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 991.
His schire wedis … That lufly lappit war on loft, he gart thame law lout 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. Prol. 3.
Qvhen paill Aurora … Her russat mantill borderit all with sabill, Lappit about the heuinly circumstance

2. To enfold or enwrap (a person) in, within (a garment, etc.); to wrap up. Also fig.(1) 1513 Doug. iv. iv. 15.
And scho … Lappyt in a brusyt mantill of Sydony Ib. ix. ii. 70.
O citesanys, how gret ane ost … Is lappit in ȝone dusty stew 1584 Sat. P. xlv. 6.
The lupus in a lamb skyn lappit 1625 P. Scot Vox Vera 5.
When Sathan appeared to Saul, hee was lapped in Samuels mantle(2) 1606 Calderwood VI. 485.
Speciallie those whom God hath lapped up within the skirts of his owne honourable styles and names, calling them gods upon Earth 1699 Forrester Bishops' Claim iii. 45.
In lapping them up under the name of teachers, who so little concern themselves in that work(3) ?1438 Alex. ii. 6552.
I se tua proud, sa lappin in pryde, That doun mon neidlingis the ta syde

b. To enclose in a coffin. 1558-66 Knox II. 160.
Scho wes lappit in a cope of leid a1651 Calderwood VIII. 158.
Her corpse was lapped in a coffin of lead

c. P.p., and transf.: (A castle) enclosed with (its walls). 1513 Doug. vi. ix. 31.
A wondir large castell, strang and stowt, With wallys thrynfald lappit rownd about

3. To clasp (a person or thing) in one's arms, or to one's breast; to embrace. Also intr., to embrace. Chiefly in Douglas. c1475 Wall. vi. 53.
Sen he at will may lap hyr in his armys 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 44.
Panthus … Phebus tempill preste, Into his armys, lappit to his breist, The haly rellykkis … beryng Ib. iii. ix. 38.
And tharwith, grulyng on hys kneis, He lappit me fast by baith the theys Ib. viii. vii. 83.
This hait fyre Gan hir enbrasyng … And, lappit to hys spowsys breist in armys, The plesant natural sleip … can he tak Ib. xi. xv. 89.
And sone thai claucht and lappyt in thar armys This queyn Ib. xiii. vii. 38.
Lyke as thai desyrit. on the land To lap at armys, and adion hand in hand

b. Of a serpent: To fold itself around (the victim). P.p., of a person: Coiled, wrapped about (another's feet). In Douglas. 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 24.
Hys twa sonnys ȝyng First athir serpent lappit lyke a ryng Ib. vii. vi. 25.
The grysly serpent … sum tyme of hir curche, lap with a waif, Becum the selvage — Ib. ii. x. 201.
Quhen lo! abowt my feit My spows lappit fell down into the ȝet

4. To press round about in a hostile manner, to invest closely, hem in, surround. Also intr. c1475 Wall. ix. 146.
The wer schippis was lappyt thaim about Ib. 1843.
Thiddyr [to Dundee] he past, and lappyt it about 1513 Doug. x. iii. 2.
All the Rutilianys stowt The cite portis lappit rownd abowt c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3972.
The Romanis lappit thame about, That, be na way, thay micht win out

5. intr. To bunch, hold close together. ?1438 Alex. i. 962.
The knychtis of Grece … Lappit togiddir [F. se ralient] all in ane rout And suore that nane suld vthir faill