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 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mos-trouper, -trooper, n. Also: moss(e)- and -truper, -trowper. [The term had a peculiarly Sc. and northern Eng. application: also e.m.E. (1651).] A border cattle-reiver, pillager, freebooter; a marauder, ruffian. 1645 Acts VI. i. 401/1.
To the remonstrance of the [county] of Northumberland concerneing the moss trouperes or brokine men in the borderes 1647 Ib. 763/2.
Mostrowperis 1651 Johnston Diary II. 118.
I blissed God for preserving me from thir mossetroupers 1651 Scotland & the Commonwealth 318.
Whereas divers lewd and wicked persons named mos troopers rove up and down the country, rob, spoile and murther upon the high-way 1653–4 Peebles B. Rec. II. 196.
For the making up tua new lockis that was brokin be the mos-truperis upon the portis 1664 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 512.
The many supplications … be the … inhabitants of our southern shyres … touching the … nefarious crymes committed … be the mosstroupers, theives [etc.] Ib. 513.
Mostroupers 1666 Sel. Biog. I. 187. a1676 Guthry Mem. 133.
Moss-troopers