A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Attircop, Attercop, n. Also: attyr-, attercope, athercape; ettercop(e, -coip. [ME. attercop, -coppe, OE. áttorcoppe, = MDa. etherkopp, Da. edderkop.]
1. A spider.c1420 Wynt. viii. 1778.
He belyd in to berth [= brethe] , … Alsa kobbyd in his crope, As he had ettyn ane attyr cope a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 54.
As attircop fechtis to fang a fle, Makand hir net 1490 Irland Mir. MS. 335.
Anacharses … said that the lawis of the realme are lik to the wobe of the attircop 1586 Calderwood IV. 539.
Like to the venemous attercope, who … drinkes up the corrupt and poysonable humors a1605 Montg. Sonn. v. 12.
The attircops Minervas office vsis
b. A spiteful or venomous person.a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 523.
Thow irefull attircop [M. ettercop], Pilate apostata a1605 Montg. Flyt. 93.
Little angrie attercop [Tull. ettercoip], and auld vnsell aipe
2. Attrib. in attircop wob, a spider's web.a1500 Bk. Chess 802.
Ouir suith it is … The ettercope vobbis ar thir lawis lyk 1600-1610 Melvill 188.
Lyk ather-cape wobbes that taks the sillie flies, bot the bumbarts braks throw tham!
