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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Trumpour, n.² Also: trumper, -ir, trwmpour, trompour, trowmpor, trimpour. [Late ME tromper (a1450), OF trompeur.]

1. A deceiver, a cheat, a liar. 1456 Hay (Glenn) III 18/214.
A Prince … that knawis syk trychouris and trompouris and … traytouris … that wald counsale him and tyce him to forffet 1460 Hay Alex. 250.
Trumpour c1460 Consail Vys Man 57.
With na trwmpouris haf na daill Na with thaim cald fals in speciall a1500 Colk. Sow i 75.
A dowble toungit counsalour A trumpour [L. trimpour] a trvcour a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 30.
Dirtin Dumbar … Thrys scheild trumpir with ane threid bair goun 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II 29.
[Houses to be let] till sufficient tenentis that ar honest men … and nocht … till trumpouris or vagabundis a1561 Norvell Meroure 61a.
Liears, trumpours, and homicides, All suche wirkers, of wicked dedes 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 140.
I confes my self … the grittest trumper in all Europe a1605 Montg. Flyt. 95 (T).
Tusche, twyscheillit trumpour, with tratling thow trowis, Makand vane vowis to mache thé with me 1603 Philotus 393.
How durst thow trumper be sa bald To tant or tell, that he was ald

2. A worthless or frivolous person; an ignoramus. 1456 Hay I 287/4.
He suld … punys syk trompouris, that … gage bataill for sik fule causis 1535 Stewart 13182.
He wes neuir gydit be the men of gude Bot be trumpouris that nothing vnderstude

3. attrib. 1559 Inverness Rec. I 35.
In calling of hyr commond huyr, trowmpor huyr, and for the bosting of puttyng of ane knyf throw her chekis 1630 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II 3 Feb.
Alledging that he callit hir trumpour quyne the last sabboithe in the kirk