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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tap, Tapp(e, Top, v.¹ Also: tape, tope, topp. P.p. also toppett. [Late ME and e.m.E. tappe (1401), tapt p.p. (1575), OE tæppian, ON tappa.]

1. To draw off and sell (wine, beer, etc.) in small quantities. 1482 Acts II 144/1.
That na man sell nor tap it [sc. wine] fra it be declarit be the bailȝeis and gustaris of wyne that it is mixt or corrupt 1576 Strathblane Par. 198 n.
Ane minister or reader that tapis ale, beir, or wyne and keeps ane open taverne sould be exorted by the Commissioners to keep decorum 1655 Acts VI ii 828/1.
The common-brewer, or … any other person … who shall sel or tap out beer or ale publickly or privately(b) a1570-86 Maitl. F. 6751.
The lairdis that drank guid wyn and aill … Thay top the beir and cheipis the meill The ladie sellis the aittis 1621 Acts IV 669/2.
Four pundis … of ilk tune of wyne to be toppit ventit and sauld in smallis within the said burgh 1659 Glasgow B. Rec. II 421.
Aill, bear, acquavytie, and wther hot waters broune, made, sold and toped within this burgh

2. To sell (goods) in small quantities, to retail. Freq., to tap and sell.pres. 1450 Ayr Chart. 28.
The commissaris of Irwine clamande fredome in … Are … to stand in the merkate to tap bradeclaith ande narow 1462 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V ii 825 (8 Oct.).
All thai at tappis to landwart marchandis other than salt ter or brade clath be punysit & forbiddin to tap ony gudis in tyme tocum 1483 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 48.
That na commoun cramaris in the toun vse to sell or tapp ony hammermenis werk, nor regrat it agane till vthar mennis vse 1509 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 124.
Ilk huikster selland and tappand fische in the merket heiffand na buith on the forgaitt, to pay j d. ilk quarter 1638 Stirling B. Rec. I 179.
To baik, tap, and sell ait brede caikes, baithe at ane heiche price and ane law wecht or paise 1676 Glasgow Chart. II 190.
It should be leasume of the burghs of regalities … to tape and retaill all commodities quhatsoever 1680 Glasgow Chart. II 207.
Tappe(b) 1479 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 37.
Amangis the lowse leiffes I fynd quhair the provest and counsale … ordanis the meilmen topperis fremen of the towne sell and top his meill daylie [etc.] 1587 Aberd. Chart. 350.
To sell and top … thair said handie wark of seyis [etc.] 1616 Stirling B. Rec. I 144.
Nathir yit that ony merchand by, to top or sell, ony handywork belanging to craftismen 1644–5 Dumbarton Common Gd. Acc. 138.
For areisting the bark … that was toppan peis in the river with ane uthir furlet nor the furlet of this burghp.p. c1420 Bute MS 171b.
Gyfe colys sape or ony vthyr marchandys brocht in tonnys to be tappyt and sauld [etc.] 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 78.
That … na thing be tappit derar one owyk day than one the merkat day(b) 1595 Edinb. B. Rec. V 146.
To bring thair breid … to be toppett and sawld oppinlie

b. To tap agane, to re-sell. 1441 Aberd. B. Rec. I 397.
That na man tak on hand to by vitale mar na will suffice thar housis to tap agayne at derth apon the commounys, and give ony nychtbour has vitale to sell, that thai tap it nocht in hous bot in the merkatt playneli apon the merkat dai 1519–20 Stirling B. Rec. I 3.
It was statut and ordinit that na houkstar sall by ony manir of fycht na uder stoufe to tap agane apon nebouris quhill eftir xj houris 1588–9 Crail B. Ct. 27 Feb.
That no hwkstar vithin this burght presume to by ony butter in gryt quantetee frome the bringaris theroff to this burgh to be tappit out againe 1588–9 Crail B. Ct. 27 Feb.
That no parsoun … not hevand the libertee and freedoume off this burght by ony talloun to be tappit furth be thame againe 1595 Glasgow B. Rec. I 174.
To by ony [victuale] fra landwart folkis to tope over agane in tyme cumyng 1618 Conv. Burghs III 64.
The … timber … not to be toppit agayne 1665 Peebles B. Rec. II 62.
Adam Russell … came doune to the deane of gild and desyred libertie of him to buy tarr and topp the same againe