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.
Clap, n.1 Also: clapp, clape, claip. [ME. clap (c 1330).]
1. A sound as of two surfaces striking together.1375 Barb. x. 401.
Thai … soyn has vp thair ledderis set, That maid a clap, quhen the cleket Wes festnyt fast in the kyrnell 1513 Doug. viii. iv. 133.
Quhen the erd … with a clap Ryvys vp a terribill sewch or grisly gap Ib. ix. xii. 59.
Sa felloun sownd or clap maid this gret clasche 1535 Stewart 49974.
That siluer cace … Wes herd richt loud than closand with ane clap 15.. Christis Kirk 115.
The wyffis come furth with cryis and clappis
2. A sharp or sounding blow or stroke.1513 Doug. x. vi. 68.
He the swerd eschapit by hys hap: Bot not at this tyme so the dedis clap Ib. xii. xii. 113.
This ontrew temperit blaid … at the first clap … in litill pecis lap 1533 Boece xi. xii. 430.
The bent croce bowis lowssit the ganeȝeis, & with ane haisty clap schot the king throw the body
3. In (or within) a clap, all at once, of a sudden.1637 Rutherford Lett. (1862) I. 451.
Our Master will be on us all now in a clap, ere euer we wit Id. (1671) 173.
Your Master Christ … will be upon you within a clap 1641 Baillie I. 352.
In a clap all the citie is in alarum c1650 Spalding I. 17.
That dolorous towr tuke fyre in so suddant and furious maner, yea and in ane clap
4. a. The clapper of a mill. Cf. Miln-clap.‘The symbols [of delivery] for land are earth and stone; for mills, clap and happer.’ John Erskine of Carnock An Institute of the Law of Scotland in the order of Sir G. Mackenzie's Institutions of that Law (1773) ii. iii. § 36.1566 Prot. Bk. W. Douglas 81 b.
The forsaidis landis … to be knawin to the samyn … be thak and raip, clape and hoppir [etc.] 1587 Prot. Bk. G. Fyiff 45.
Allexander Strattoun … gaif stait and possessioun … be delyuerance in the said Williames handis of the clap and cruik of the said myln 1638 Aboyne Rec. 285.
Be deliverance to thame of the clap and happer, yeard and stone, cobill and net, of the said milne lands 1676 S. Leith Rec. 133.
The mill was disrigget on Saturday … and the clap off 1686 Fountainhall Decis. I. 432.
His sasine is null, bearing only the symbol of tradition of earth and stone, whereas a mill … requires delivery of the clap and happer
b. The clap (= valve) of the throat, the uvula.1688 Trial P. Standifield (J).
If a person be thrown dead into the water, when the clap of his throat is shut, the water cannot enter
c. A clapper used to attract attention.‘A flat instrument of iron, resembling a box, with a tongue and handle, used for making proclamations through a town, instead of a drum or hand-bell’ (J).1695 Stirling B. Rec. II. 75.
The magistrats … ordaines them to cawse make ane clapp for going through the toun with the saids intimationes 1696 Foulis Acc. Bk. 188.
To the man to put the clap throw the toune for the grew whelp
