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

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

Loup, Lowp, n.¹ Also: loupe, lowpe, (lawp), lup, loop. [ME. (Destr. Troy) and e.m.E. loup(e, e.m.E. (17th c.) loop(e : cf. Sc. and Ir. Gael. lùb id.]

1. A loop, in the usual applications. Also attrib. in lowp knot.Also allusively in Grass-market loop, a hangman's noose, (from the Grassmarket, Edinburgh, where executions were commonly carried ont).(1) 1513 Doug. v. v. 66.
The tother part [of the adder], lamyt, clynschis and makis hir byd, In lowpis [R. loupis] thrawyn and lynkis of hir hyde 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII. 131.
For ix stane merling cord … to wap and mak the lowpes of the somes and thetis 1549 Compl. 103/24.
Euerie cord bot ane faldome of lyntht, vitht ane loupe on the end al reddy maid 1696 Murray Witch-cult 204.
[They] thought at first … the neck-cloath not having any drawn knot (or run loup) that he had not been quite deadattrib. 1513 Doug. xii. x. 122.
At ane hie balk teyt vp scho has With a lowp [R. loupe] knot a stark cord or a las, Quharwith hir self scho spilt(2) c 1680 (1682) Ravillac Redivivus 35.
Go together to hell in troops, Else strive for new Grassmarket loops

b. ? A loop or ring of silver. 1622 Orkney & Zetl. Test. MS. I. 76 b.
Ane siluer loup of four vnce wecht price of the vnce iij li.

2. A loop of cord or braid on a garment or the like, used with a button as a fastening. 1590 Thanes of Cawdor 197.
For lawpis [sic in pr.] and nyne buttonis to the womb of his masterchipis breikis 1657 Balfour Ann. IV. 395.
His wnder coate hanging with the loupes opened 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 300.
Ane hung bed … with silk buttons and loups conforme

b. plur., also uninfl. as a coll. Cord or braid consisting of a series of loops, for fastening garments in this way or for ornament. 1591 Thanes of Cawdor 199.
For viij ell of lup to your m. putchis and sleffis 1592 Ib. 213.
iiij ellis louppis to the doublett 1597 Edinb. Test. XXXI. 267.
xxv vnce cordingis … nyne vnce loupis at xx s. the vnce

c. Attrib. in loup lais.e.m.E. loope-lace (1632). 1614 Laing MSS. I. 135.
For lowpe lais 0. 0. 4 Ib. 137.
Loup lais

3. ? A loop or bend in the course of a stream or of a hillside or valley.Perh. directly repr. Gael. lùb in the same use. c 1460 Reg. Cupar A. I. 131.
And fra thin to the hede of Carn Glascha and to the lowpe of Fascheloch