A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Snap, n. Also: snapp-. [f. or f. as Snapwark n. Cf. 18th c. Eng. snap a pistol (once, Sheridan).] a. The firing mechanism of a gun. = Snapwark n. a. Also attrib. with gun and hakbut. b. The gun itself. = Snapwark n. b. c. transf. Appar. the release mechanism of the Maiden.a. 1578 Glasgow B. Rec. (MC) 96 (see Snapmaker n.). 1580 Glasgow B. Rec. (MC) 122.
Ane lang caliver with snap 1589 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 182.
[I] delyuerit John Meill a hackbuit with a snap and he delyuerit me a hackbuit with a skarmische 1594 Edinb. Test. XXVII 227b.
Ane vther gwn with ane snap price of the same xxx s. 1636 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 290.
[John Ker, dagmaker … admitted freeman his] sey being ane snap with ane cavenat lok and ane schamber dor lokattrib. 1644 Acts VI i 65/2.
Their foote men haveing snap gunnes and suordis sall have the pay of foote souldiers —1612 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 190.
My … snap hakbutb. 1584 Edinb. Hammermen III 35.
The dekyn … dischargis Johne Halden loksmyth of ferdar wirking with Gawin Gilchrist blaksmyth in his buyth of dagis or snappis 1594 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 160.
[Mathew Watsone dagmaker, lorimer] admitted to his assay, to wit, ane hagbut, ane dag and ane snapc. 1583 Soc. Ant. VII 553.
Gevin to the lokman for the keiping of the snap of the Madin, and for ane barrel to put it in, vj s. viij d.
