A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Stop(p)ar, Stopper, n. [e.m.E. stopper (1480); Stop v.] a. One who stops, obstructs, hinders (a person, in some activity). b. One who interferes with (an activity, institution, state of affairs) or causes it to stop.a. 1505 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 105.
The said belman to … approper the saymn to his awin proffitt and vse sicklyk as the vtheris whilkis gatherit before … and the stopperis gif ony beis to be pvnist be the vnlaw viij s. vnforgevin 1517 Acta Conc. MS XXX 174.
Gif thai be stoppit … the … lordis of counsale will provid … for the … resisting of the stopparisb. 1533 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS II 193.
To be callit and accusit as stoparis lettaris and brekaris of the peace 1533 Bell. Livy II 124/25.
The remanent tribunis, quhilkis war stopparis of the law agrarie a1538 Abell 7*a.
Justis stopparis wes circvmvenyt be Kyng Kanetht 1546 St. P. Henry VIII V 583.
Ther is no thing done, but by the best counsaill and advise of those whiche loves the avanceing of the Kingis affaris and continuall trubull of the stoppares therof 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 322.
My lord regents grace … [desiring to be] rather the stopper and doun thrower of iniquitie
