Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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Gossop, Gossep, n. Also: gos(s)ope, gosseip, gossap, gossup. [ME. gossop, gossep (15th c.), gossib, -sibbe, godsib, -sibbe (14th c.), OE. godsib.] A godfather or godmother in relation to a child, its parents or each other: a fellow-sponsor.(a) 1456 Hay I. 26/30.
Nocht for knaulage of cosynage, na gossappis, na commaris of cardinalis 1533 Thanes of Cawdor 159.
Quhen euyr the caus iniuris to ethyr of us the saidis parteis [to] fulfill the band of gossaprie … as gossapis suld do(b) c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii. 1597.
Schyr Jhon Menteth … was captane thar. Twys befor he had his gossep beyn a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow iii. 77.
A sone gat he And Colkelby was gossep to the same 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 66/20.
Thai dancit … the gosseps dance 1549 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries XI. 88.
The said [Arche] … crewallie slew Schir Iohne Simsone, … godfader and gossep to the said Arche 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 485.
That be thair ambassatouris thai may be witnessis and gosseppis at the baptisme of thair Majesteis derrest sone c 1608 Elphinstone Fam. Bk. 181.
Your lordschipis lowing cousin, and gosseip(c) c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 795.
Sone he fand … Schyr Jhon Menteth, Wallace his gossop was 15.. Christis Kirk 142.
Ilk gossop vther grevit 1540 Elgin Rec. I. 53.
To call John Ȝoung … for the greit sklander and defamatione of him, calland him murdressar of his awin gossop 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 284.
Ane ald dayf prest … baptist the barne … , beand present Henry Greg, John Colfe, and Besse Alison, gossopis and cummer 1581 Colville Lett. 3.
The King and the Duke beis gossopps to the Erle of Arrane's sone 1584 Edinburgh Testaments XIV. 116 b.
I leue my dochter … to be brocht vp vnder the handis of Archibald Inglis my gossop 1600-1610 Melvill 459.
Verelie that gossope at the baptisme … was na litle vokie for getting of the bern's name 1626 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 9.
No inhabitant … Shall … invite anie ma persones to be gossopes or cumberes at the babtizeing of thair childrene, bot four gossopes and four cumberes at the most 1634 Fam. Rose 320.
Committing yow in Godis holie protectyoune, Your loving gossope, Louatt c1650 Spalding II. 274.
James Andersone … causit bring to the kirk ane barne … and convenit his gossopis and cummeris, as the custom is

b. Used in addressing a person. a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow iii. 86.
Susan … said, ‘gossap, beir hame ȝour pure offring’ c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiii. 3.
‘Quhat tydingis, gossep [M. gossope], peax or weir?’ a1500 Peblis to Play 185.
Gude gossop, cum hyn ȝon gaitis, For we haue daunsit aneuch 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1358.
Alace, gossop, alace, how stands with ȝow? 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 66/23.
Thai dancit … ‘fut befor, gossep’ 1582 Waus Corr. I. 236.
My lord, and belowit gossep, … I haff thocht it gud [etc.] 1590 Fraser P. 153.
Gossep, … it will pleis you to ressave this uther tikit 1603 Philotus xlii.
Gossop, … Appoynt the place and spair not 1696 Wemyss Fam. P. MS.
My dear gossop