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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.

Stoup, v. Also: stoupe, stowp(e, stoop(e, stop, (stroop). [ME and e.m.E. stupe (a1225), stoupe (Manning), stope (c1380), stowppe (a1500), stoope (1555), OE stúpian, MDu. stûpen, ON stupa.]

1. To bend or bow (one's head, etc.); to bend over or down (doun), to stoop. b. To humble oneself by stooping or bending down, passing into sense 2 fig. below. (a) 1375 Barb. viii 297.
With heid stoupand [C. stowpand] and speris straucht Rycht to the king thar wayis raucht a1400 Leg. S. xi 93.
His visage lange … thar-with sum-thinge stoupand wes, That is takine of gret grace a1500 Henr. Fab. 1766 (Ch.).
The nek to stoup, quhen it the straik sall get 1513 Doug. x vii 58.
As onwar he stowpyt and devalyt … Pallas hym keppyt … on hys brand 1513 Doug. xi xiii 50.
He fordward stowpand was … To hynt hys horssis reyn that gan to fundir 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 159.
My febill bodie stowpit than in age 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5670.
Stoup doun agane and pull vp be the rute 1558-66 Knox II 15.
The poore woman perceving him so bent, and that he stoupped doun in hir tub, for the taking foorth of suche stufe as was within it [etc.] 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 18.
The ashtre and the aik That Æolus gart yeild … Thocht thay wer strang he gart thame stoup a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 486.
It is na time to stoup when the head is aff a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxviii 34.
The rendring reid, vhilk bouis with euerie blast, In stormis bot stoupis 1632 Prognostication.
Stoupe 1652 Lamont Diary 51.
William Alexander … being att the ware sea, he stood vp on the axe-trie, to stoope downe the ware 1659 Old-lore Misc. V iii 129.
He saw Margt. Watson stoup thryce to the ground(b) a1568 Bann. MS 256b/7.
Stopping in aige … and ȝowtheid went & doneb. a1665 W. Guthrie Letters Horning 9.
For the God of glory to wash the feet of fishermen, that he might say ‘I have strooped thus low’

2. fig. To humble oneself, submit, offer obedience. Also const. (downe) to (something). Freq. with allusion to sense 1. 1570 Sat. P. x 296.
The hiest of thame all, that wald rebell, He maid him stoup and als to knaw himsell a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 443/73.
Stowpe thane wnder his michtie hand And the content of his guid will 1587-99 Hume 23/194.
All the fellon feinds of hell thay trimble fast for feare, And stoups when as the awfull curs, & dreadful dume they heare 1587-99 Hume 39/180.
Stoup and repent while ye haue grace to mend a1605 Montg. Devot. P. iv 59.
Stoup, hardint hairt, befor the Lord a1605 Montg. Misc. P. ix 18.
A king … to vhom all stoupis 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i 17.
Rap't with delight of thy mellifluous phrase … O then I stowp as one in airt too shallow Thy never matched monarch muse to follow 1611-57 Mure True Crucifixe 6.
Man, but … A wormeling weake, soone to stoupe downe to death 1630 Rutherford Christ & Doves 10.
The lintel-stone of our Lords school-door is a low-stone, ye must stoup low and lout; ye will be on your knees with it or ye can win in 1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 219.
To tistifie how readie we are to stoupe to the smallest occasiones serving for that end 1643 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 357.
How much more shall we not stoup and fall down in the dust 1643 Fugitive Poetry II xx 16/2.
The prelats who Gods Sabbaths with their playes Profaind, now stoup and droup in Embring dayes

3. lit. or fig. ? To fall down (by reason of sickness), ? to submit (to a disease). 1596 Dalr. II 133/4.
Quhilk seiknes infecteng maist the gentle men … bot spaireng the landwart and pure peple, tha callit stoup galland, meineng that the maist potent and noble men it gart stoup

4. Of a bird of prey: To descend (to the lure). Also transf. 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. Prov. No. 87.
Gorged haukes will stoupe to no luretransf. c1590 Fowler I 253/2.
Can eagells birdis flie lower then thair kynd, Or can ambition stowpe to servill gaine?