A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1531-1685
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Rapper, -ar, Raper, -ar, n. Also: rappere, -eir, -re; rapeir; rapire, -yr. [e.m.E. rapyre (1553), med. L. rapperia (1511 in Du Cange). Cf. Rappier n.] A rapier, the type of sword.‘My own conviction is that the rapier of the early sixteenth century, as used in France and Scotland, is no other than the short-gripped Spanish sword with a pes d'ane hilt and furnished with a rather light, long two-edged blade’ (C. R. Beard).For a detailed description of the rapier in use in the late 17th c., see Sir W. Hope The Scots Fencing-master Edinburgh 1687.(1) 1531 Treasurer's Accounts V 415.
For v rapperis, v li. 1537 Ib. VI 337.
For the grathing of ane rappere 1538 Ib. 411.
Rapparis 1539 Ib. VII 49, etc.
Rapperis 1558-66 Knox II 57.
The mercyless tyranne ran him through with his rapper 1574 Edinburgh Testaments III 106.
Ane rapper & ane suerd 1596 Dalr. II 186/30.
Ilk schuteng his rapper in vtheris bellie 1600-1610 Melvill 273.
Meitting with his marrow, with rapper and dagger … he gettes a porh at the left pape 1600 Edinb. Test. in Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 296.
Five rapperis whereof ane unmontit 1610 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 77.
With ane drawin rappre a1651 Calderwood VI 73.(b) 1538 Treasurer's Accounts VI 397.
The kingis raperis 1538 Ib.
Blak cordis of silk to bynd the saidis raparis handis 1567 Dundee B. Laws 373.
Rapyr 1600 Criminal Trials II 296.
Johnne … ran his raper throw his bodie 1633 Perth Glovers in Mill Mediæv. Plays 271 n.
Threttein … glovers with … scheiring raperis in thair handis … dauncit our sword daunce(2) 1543 Aberd. B. Rec. MS XVIII (Jam.).
Ane Frence rapar … gardit with blak hiltis and the neif wewpit with blak birge thred 1685 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries LVIII 356.
A Spanish rapire with a silver wayer handle
b. attrib. and comb.Rapper sword, ? a weapon combining certain features of the rapier and the small-sword.(1) 1538 Treasurer's Accounts VI 414.
For the gilting of lvij pecis to the kingis rapeir beltis 1568 Edinburgh Testaments I 215.
Foure rapper beltis gilt and stekit with silk … xl s. —1600 Edinb. Test. in Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 296.
Tua rapper blaidis ungraithit —1615 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 84.
My raper hingeris of blak ledder —1674 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 33.
Raper hilt(2) 1575 Treasurer's Accounts XIII 62.
For ane rappeir sword ouregilt with gold 1586 Treasurer's Accounts MS 124.
Thre rapper swordis price of the pece iiij li. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 176/12.
Ueare na ordinaire armoure … bot … rapper-suordis & daiggeris 1600-1610 Melvill 273.
His corps is … fund to haiff that onlie a poinct streak of a rapper sword 1600 Paisley B. Rec. 234. 1609 Edinburgh Testaments XLV 171b.
Ane lang rapper suord 1625 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 123.
Twa raper swordis 1628 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 185.
