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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

COUP, COWP, v.² and n.² Also found in n.Eng. dial. (E.D.D.). [kʌup]

I. v.

1. tr. (1) To barter, exchange (Sc. 1808 Jam.; 1855 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 722, cowp; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Known to Bnff.², Abd. correspondents, Fif.¹⁰ 1940.Sc. 1701–31 R. Wodrow Analecta (Maitland Club 1843) IV. 296:
Kirkes and Ministers are couped like horses, and bargains are made to please men and partys, in thir matters, most shamefully.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xxvii.:
They [the troopers] . . . rade through the country couping and selling a' that they gat, like sae mony west-country drovers.Bwk. c.1830 W. A. Foster in Minstrelsy of the Merse (ed. Crockett 1893) 152:
And weel I lo'e the bonnie lad That couppit hearts wi' me.

Comb.: coup-rig, a rig under the run-rig system of agriculture which is cultivated by a succession of tenants in rotation. Lth. 1829 G. Robertson Recollections 261:
It has one particular appellation, namely, coup-rig, which is sufficiently probative of the fact.

2. tr. “To expose to sale” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.²; 1923 Watson W.-B.).

3. tr. and intr. To traffic, deal; to buy and sell, esp. in connection with horses; “used . . . only of an inferior kind of trade” (Abd. 1825 Jam.²). Known to Bnff.², Abd.⁹, Fif.¹⁰ 1940.Bnff. 1879 M. Grant in Bnffsh. Jnl. (16 Sept.) 3:
He canna' coup wi' Ballindalloch.Abd.(D) 1875 W. Alexander Life among my Ain Folk iv.:
He was far from certain that “couping” cattle was to be strictly so [as honest industry] defined. “He'll coup till he coup owre the tail i' the gutter some day.”m.Sc. 1917 J. Buchan Poems 35:
But when it comes to coupin' horse I'm juist like a' that e'er were born, I fling my heels and tak my course.

Phr.: couping yill, a drink of ale to cement a bargain. e.Lth. 1883 J. Martine Reminiscences 70:
Well frequented on market-days by dealers, farmers and others to drink the "couping yill," "mags," &c.

II. n.

1. A barter, deal (Bnff.², Abd.² 1940).Lnl. 1910 J. White Eppie Gray 13:
Whiles had a cowp tae eke a leevin', An' didna stick at doonricht theevin'.

2. “A good bargain; any thing purchased below its just value” (Gl. Survey Mry. (per Jam.²)); “a benefit, advantage” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 31). Cf. Cawper. Known to Abd.⁹ 1940.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 31:
He hizna a great cowp o't.Abd. 1874 W. Scott Dowie Nicht 74:
Meggie was rewarded for her discovery with a horn of Jinse's best ale, which, to use her own words, 'wis nae coup in a cauld, frosty Yeel mornin.'

3. “Applied to a person's character; as, ‘He's nae great cowp' (He is of a worthless character)” (Ib.).