Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Gowpin, n. Also: gowp(p)ing, gowpene, goupin(g, gopin(n)e. [ME. goupyne (once, c 1325), otherwise Sc. and N. Eng. dialect, ON. gaupn.] The fill of the two hands held out together in the form of a bowl. a1500 Henr. III. 152/69.
With ane grit gowpene of the gowk fart 1531 Bell. Boece I. lviii.
Thay … gevis ane gowpin, or ellis sum thingis mair abone the just mesure that thay sell 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 315.
The first payment … to be tayne vp be the said thesaurer, be ressoun the said millers haif gottin na payment of thair gowpings and sic dewteis sensyne 1600-1610 Melvill 7.
He [God] wald repey twyse als guid, and nocht ly lang in na man's comoun. Whowbeit, alas! what can we giff him bot his awin? Bot behold yit the gopine 1607 Reg. Great S. 790/2.
Concessit dicto Johanni dicta officia, cum lie porter-gopinnes janitori de Skrabister solvi consuetis 1611 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 80.
Ane pek of malt of ilk nyne laid and sum gowppings and handfullis 1641 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 255.
Peter Hay … and Andro Mowat, pickiemen at the townes commone milnes … was convict … for exacting of ane goupin out of ewerie seckfull of malt Ib. 256.
If any servand … transgres this present ordinance, be giveing of ane gowpin or any wther quantitie of malt mor nor the dew multur … [they] salbe punishit 1665 Lauder Journal 45.
Others at every gutter came to taking up goupings of filth