Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Lamp, n. Also: lampe. [ME. lampe (c 1200), laumpe, lamp, OF. lampe.]

1. A lamp.(1) a 1500 Coll. St. Salvator 162.
Thre stirrapis for the lampys 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 85.
In ane … gardeviant … a lamp of siluer 1501 Edinb. Hammermen 39.
For scowring of the hers lamp candilstikkis & cappis & for vle dole to the sammyn 1511 Ib. 73 b.
For ane pane of latoun to the lamp xviij d. c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. cxxviii. 12.
Alsweill as mony lampis had bene lycht 1539 Soc. Ant. II. 397.
The lamp … that hingis in the queyr … to be ly[ch]tit at the second bell(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 30.
All the lake as lamp did leme of licht 15.. Clar. i. 20.
When he was armit … As lucent lamp so leimit he of licht Ib. v. 1974.
Sir Charles … as ane lamp schyning(3) 1596 Dalr. I. 296/21.
This goldne aple, sett with pretious margarites lyk lampes of lychte

b. transf. One of the heavenly bodies.(1) Arundel MS. 274/4.
On loft is ryssyn the gret illumynar, The lampe that lichtnes euery regioun … the blisfull orient sone 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 60.
Virgill … So lamp of day thou art and schynand son [etc.] Ib. ii. iii. 19.
Onto the starnys … O ȝhe, quod he, euerlestand lampis brycht 1528 Lynd. Dreme 422.
Phebus … That lusty lampe and lantern of the heuin(2) a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 197.
Fair Phebus, lanterne & lamp of licht

2. fig. a. Said of persons: A source of spiritual or intellectual light; a shining light or example. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxv. 20.
Ȝe clarkis … in our darknes be lampis in [v.r. off] schyning 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1049.
Subiects … follow … Thair governours … the lamps that sould schaw them the licht To leid them [etc.] c1552 Id. Mon. 5349.
Pastouris … In thare beginnyng schew gret lycht … Bot, now, … Those schynand lampis bene ago Ib. 5379.
Those that hes auctorite … Gar thame lycht all thare lampis agane 1562-3 Winȝet II. 11/15.
The lichtis and lampis of the Kirk of God, Athanasius, Gregore, [etc.] 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl. 107.
Johne Knox … I will discurs sum thing in speciall Tuiching this lamp, on lyfe quhill he did lest

b. A shining or supreme example, a paragon (of the class or the quality specified).(1) a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 548.
Pickit, wickit, conwickit, lamp Lollardorum a1568 Scott i. 218.
Lantern to lufe, of ladeis lamp and lot Ib. vii. 30.
Adew the flour of haill delyte … And lamp of ladeis lustiest(2) a1550 Lang Rosair 233.
Haill … luflie lady … the lampe of lufe c1500 Crying of Play 133.
Edinburgh … Quilk is the lampe & a per se Of this regioun in all degre Of welefaire & of honeste c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxvii. 2.
Blyth Aberdein … The lamp of bewtie, bountie, and blythnes c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 225.
Fair weill, ȝe lemant lampis of lustines Of fair Scotland: adew my ladies all 1540 Id. Sat. 238.
The Romane kirk [v.r. court] … Quhilk is the lemand lamp of lechery a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxv. 180.
Honest Lucretia Wes flour of chastitie & prudent Porcia Lamp of fidelitie

c. A paragon, more vaguely; a person of supreme excellence or beauty. Esp. lamp of licht.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxvi. 13.
O lamp lemand befoir the trone devyne! … O mater Jhesu, salue Maria! c1600 Montg. Suppl. iv. 3.
O lusume lamp etheriall, Quhais beamis bricht hes no compair!(2) ?a1500 Obsecro 13.
Mary … Lampe of licht, lanterne of blis a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 3.
Haill, lampe of licht; haill, Jhesu Saluitour 1513 Doug. ii. v. 59.
O thou [sc. Hector], of Troy the lemand lamp of lycht 1567 G. Ball. 162.
Go, hart, vnto the lampe of lycht … Go, hart, vnto thy Sauiour 1603 Philotus .
O lustie luifsome lamp of licht [sc. Emilie] c1600 Montg. Suppl. xii. 4.
Thow art the chois, Ane lantern and ane lamp of lycht(3) 15.. Dunb. App. ix. 5.
The hevynnis king … , The lamp of joy, that chasis all dirknes