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.
Quotation dates: 1375, 1440-1700+
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Stop(p)ing, vbl. n. Also: stoppyn(g, stopin, -yn(e, stopting, stopeing. [ME stoppynges pl. (once, Trevisa), e.m.E. stoppyng (1487-8), stopping (1585); Stop v.] The action of Stop v., in senses 1-14.
1. The action of blocking, obstructing, denying access to (a place, passage, thoroughfare).1513 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 24.
That … all placis of the est end of the town and wost end be in lykwys rewlit anent the stoping of hedrowmes and casting of souchis and barois making 1535 Wigtown B. Ct. 306b.
Fore the wrangus strovlyng of his saruandis & stopyne of the kyngis passage 1563 Grant Chart. 128.
The complaint gevin in vpon William Fraser for stopping … of the Loucht of Ness, and the said passaige Williame his ansuer … allegeing the woddis pertenyng to him … continuallie cuttit pelit and distroiit be the travelloris vpon the said loucht, and thairupon onlie challengit his awin wod
2. fig. The action of closing, making deaf (one's ears).1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 230.
Joyned with their obstinacie in stopting their eares against the voice of the Kirk
3. The action of damming up or blocking the flow of (water), or an instance of this.(1) 1480 Acts Lords of Council I 60/2.
The accioun … for the drawin of a water lade and mylne damme throw the landis of Aymisfeld and stoppin of the water apoun the samyn landis … in distruying of his corne 1480 Acts Lords of Council I 72/1.
For stoppin and inhalding of a water apoun the samyn landis 1488 Red Bk. Grandtully I 170*.
Tuetching the distroying and doune casting of the said Androuis myln … and of the vaydrawing and stopping of the watter tharfra 1574 Inverness Rec. I 239.(2) 1531 Reg. Dunferm. 362.
Thai sall oppin the conductis … that the watter may have anis passage to the sey vnder erd and gif ony stopyn happinnis … it salbe leisum to the said … abbot … to caus pas in at ony of the waist eys … and oppin the samyn
4. Blockage, congestion (of, in the chest).1456 Hay II 139/32.
Calde water … genderis stopping in the breste and noyis the longis 1601 Trial David Roy 7.
Whairof first he drank himself, pretending that it was to cuir him of the stopping of his breist 1500-1699 Herbarius Latinus Annot. ii (Adv.).
Not [= note] for the stoping of the breist alsweill outwartlie as invartlie
5. a. The action of stuffing or padding (a saddle). b. The action of filling (teeth).a. 1503 Treasurer's Accounts II 202.
For ane curpal and ane tee to the harnes sadill, tagging, mending and stopping of the samyn 1503 Treasurer's Accounts II 219.
For … stopping, tagging, and mending of the quenis and hir ladyes sadilles 1505 Treasurer's Accounts III 160.b. 1715 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 35.
For stoping Grisies teeth with leed and some things to clean ‘em
6. The action of preventing (a person from doing something, or an action or process from taking place), or an instance of this.(1) 1536 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 136.
Jhone Orrok … for stopin of said pronunciatione and sentence … present and causit be red ane pretendit acquitance … of saidis landis of Moyrhous 1560 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 21.
It is statut … that na ship niep … betwixt the shoar and bulwark for stopping of the entrie of uther shipes(2) 1497 Acts Lords of Council II 77.
In the away letting of the watter of the sade dam and stopping of the ganging of the sade David Hepburn myln 1537–8 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 153.
Robert Stewart in … the tenenttis of Wester Kyngornis namys denuncit … at Robert Orrok … destroit the ald marsches … protestand … at thai be nocht accusit efter for the nocht stoppin of the samyn(3) 1594 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 531.
I boucht ane chire … I causit bak the same with quhit irne and maid it schairp for stopin of ony to leine thairon —1660 Honours Scotl. 112.
The enamie … did put a garison in the Fitersso … from [= for] stoping it from provison or coraspondance with the cuntry
b. Excluding, keeping out or away.1562 Inverness Rec. I 94.
For expelling of dartht, and stopping of vnfre broustaris 1563–4 Inverness Rec. I 115.
That the kirk yard be biggit and dykit sufficientle … for stopping of horses and bestiall 1676 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 29 July.
For stoping of heevel air 1679 Glasgow B. Rec. III 276.
To buy … land … for making a streit betwixt the Saltmercat and Trongait for better stopping of fyre 1682 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 1 April.
For working clay for stoping the ill air
c. Causing (an institution) to cease functioning; suspending, cancelling.1689 Acts XII 56/2.
The consideratione of the stopeing of the judicatories remmitted to the committee for secureing the peace
7. The action of hindering or obstructing (a person, also, a material or non-material thing), or an instance of this. Also in various constructions and collocations.(1) 1465 Colquhoun Chart. 292.
The said Robert Lorde Fleming salcum thare, and in esy frendeful and gudely wis, withoute ony impediment or stopping, … suffir ane assise to pas vpon thir landis 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 87.
Our alld inimeis … intendis … to invaid the Merce … that salbe abill to tham to dow withowt thai get sum stoping or impediment(2) 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I 241.
Anent the stopping of the quariors be the kingcards 1559–60 Treasurer's Accounts XI 10.
All personis withtin eist Lowtheane and Mers to brek thair mylnis withtin xxiiij houris warnyng, for stopping of the Inglis army —1498 Acts Lords of Council II 216.
For the wrangus and maisterfull stoppin and lattin of thame in the occupation, … of the landis 1500–1 Acts Lords of Council II 479.
As for the wrangus stopping and letting of the sade Wilyeam in the halding of his courtis apone his sadis landis —1641 Spalding II 11.
And efter a declaired bruik of peace, no stopping of trade, taking of schipis or ony vther actis of hostilitie to be vsed(3) 1496 Acts Lords of Council II 59.
The sade Jonet … dois wrang til him in the stopping of the sade Georg to poynd and distrinȝe for his sade annuale 1528 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) (Scott v. Seytoun).
The … maisterfull manissing and bosting and stopping of him … to laubour and occupy the saidis [lands] —1440 Misc. Spald. C. V 262.
The king shall gar his chappell to be open, and the law ready, but stoping to the said Lord to pursue his right —1495 Reg. Paisley 405.
The wrangwis stoppyn and lattyn of the saidis Abbot and convent till haif comon pastour in the mure of Renfrew 1498 Acts Lords of Council II 157.
Anent the accione … for the wrangus outputtin of thame out of the twa part of the landis of the Manys of Lasingtone and stopping and letting of thame til occupy and manure the sammyn [lands](4) 1498 Acts Lords of Council II 236.
For the wrangus vexacione, stopping and impediment making to the sade Alexander and his servandis in the peceable broiking and manuring of his landis 1501 Chart. Coupar A. II 103.
Johne Lord Drummond did wrang in the stopping and impediment making till the saidis abbot and conuent and thare seruandis in vsing and broiking of thare commone gaitis(5) 1463 Lennox Mun. 76.
That ȝe mak na gerr mak na stoping to me in the serving of thame 1467 Reg. Panmure II 242.
Gif it sal happyn me or myn ayris … to cum mak ony stopping or impediment in the ressaving of … thame to be tennend til us c1490 Porteous Noblenes 177/26 (Asl.).
This Lady Worthines … is fers and felloun to … cruell men and to semple men scho makis na let truble nor stopping —1485 Acts Lords of Council I *107/2.
That na temporale men … enter in the said abbay … nor mak stoppin to the said dene Thomas abbot to enter in the samyn
b. A physical hindrance, obstruction or obstacle.1375 Barb. vi 169.
The vpcom wes then Dittit with slayn hors and men; Swa that his fayis, for that stopping, Micht not cum to the vp-cummyng 1494 Loutfut MS 130a.
Batellouris suld be excercit in leping and that is profitable … to giff gretter strakis be loupyng thai may pas dikis and stoppyn [Lindsay MS stoppins] and say fley thair enemys the mair
c. A means of stopping (something); a distraction.c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v 114.
Bettir it was he did [sc. slaying Fawdoun] as thinkis me. Fyrst, to the hunde it mycht gret stoppyn be [etc.]
8. The action of depriving (persons) (of something).1570 Crail B. Ct. 14 Nov.
For stopping, debarring and teravyng of thame and ther servandis of certane wair and fuilȝie collectit and gadderit be thame upoun the sea cost
9. Delaying, hesitating (to do something).1500 Acts Lords of Council II 472.
For the wrangus stoppin & fraudfull deferring to put thair selis to the instrumentis of saising gevin be the sade Wilyeam Frog
10. a. Ceasing to move, halting; a halt.a1500 Henr. Orph. 274.
Than Orpheus anone With-out stoping atour the brig is gone —1375 Barb. vii 593.
The laiff with that maid a stopping
b. Of a mechanism: The condition of failing to function.1692 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 313.
To bush the privat holls which are worne in the said clock, to the effect the wheells may run the easier and not stop, and to help the stopping of the halfe hours, and caus them ring at ther due tyme 1701 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. VI 178.
To James Thomson for fixeing the pendent of my watch and helpeing her stopeing, 10 shil.