A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1583-1661
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0]
Midcuppill, n. Also: midd- and -cuple, -couple. [Mid a.; Cuppill n.] a. In jewellery, a link or fastening. b. A ligament uniting the two staves of a flail. c. ? The piece of timber joining the two rafters of a couple. d. fig. A piece of evidence linking a claimant with the right claimed.a. 1583 Inv. Wardrobe 309.
Tua diamantis of the same sett … with tua buttonis or midcuppillis of gold joynit to the saidis settisb. 1608 in Calderwood VI. 744.
In the which demonstrations, the midd couple will never hold fast the souple to the handstaffec. 1636 Kirkcaldy Presb. 103.
For ane midcuple and putting ane cupell in the halld. 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 185.
By the observing of the progress of the richts it will be found that the mater wes assignit to Patrick … and be the act of parliament in favor of the toun, the said Patrick wes … declarit a fugitive … , quhich midcuple of their richt they have omitted out of thair summonds
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Midcuppill n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/midcuppill>
