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.
Sope, Soup(e, Sowp(e, Sup, n. Also: sop, soppe, soip, soop, soppe. [ME and e.m.E. sope (c1275), e.m.E. also suppe (1570), sup (1621), soop (1662), OE sopa, f. as Sop n.1 Cf. ON sopi a sup, mouthful, and saup spoon-meat, a sup (of porridge).] A small amount of liquid, esp. as a drink; a sip, sup, mouthful. Also, freq., without of. Also, bitt or sope, (a mouthful of) food or drink.(1) 1597 Crim. Trials II 28.
Scho … tuke vp nyne sopis of salt watter and put in a stolp 1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 117.
They apprehended and dewitted him, one of the brethren taking a sop of his heart-blood(b) 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 3.
Marioun Blair … cumand to the hous, scho gaif to hir ane sowp of quhay 1633 Orkney Witch Trial in Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. V 545.
Thair was ane powr woman that … desyrit ane soupe off milk from the said Marrioun 1633 Orkney Witch Trial in Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. V 548.
Catrine … did caus give hir ane sowpe off milk(c) 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II 310.
On Saiterday at evin to all thair suppis [5 s.](d) a1585 Polwart Flyt. 236 (T).
Syne sup sex soipis but sumthing thin Of the deill scad thy guttis with in(2) 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 296.
It is not thy bluid, bot ane sope wyne in takin of thy bluid 1600 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 159.
The por woman sent to Robert Dreveris hous … to get a sope milk(b) 1624 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 145.
Scho wald not geue you ane soup milk of ane new callowit kow 1649 Cupar Presb. 131.
The said Jonet requysted hir to cause Margaret Young send a soup barme to hir to bake with 1654 Cupar Presb. 169.
Johne Reid gave them a soup watter round about 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 248.
You sought a soup barme(c) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xl 27.
Off wyne owt of ane choppyne stowp, They drank twa quartis, sowp and sowp(d) 1650 Elgin Rec. II 275.
A stranger heiland woman desyred hir to tak a sup watter and thrie stones and put them behind the doore all night(e) 1670 Lauder Jrnl. 204.
The King once answering that he cared not tho' they supped him in broth, they … put on a ketle and boiled him their, and each of them took a soop out of it(3) 1596 Dalr. II 220/14.
xl days and nychtes amang strangeris he had fasted but outher bitt or sope 1596 Dalr. II 220/27.
To watche him nycht and day that nouther bitt or sope cum in his mouth
b. In fig. context: ? (A small amount of) oil for basting a joint of meat; ? gravy, natural juices (of meat).1569-73 Bann. Memor. 64.
Thai began to bait the fyre, sometymes to his buttokes, sometymes to his leiges [etc.] … and that the rost should nocht burne, but that it mycht rost in sope [Trans. rest in soppe], they spared not flambing with oyle
