A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Tapon, Tawpon, Talpo(u)n, n. Also: tap(p)one, tap(p)oun, tapen. [MF tapon, f. taper to plug.]
1. A peg or pin.1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 102.
Four grete spyndillis … and certane verolis, crampatis and tua lang tawponis … in completing of the harnes myln 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 232.
For certane quhit irne for chairgeouris tawponis and utheris small expensis 1538–9 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 259.
For xvii stane wecht maid irne werk in bowtis foirlokis virollis tawponis … and utheris necessaris to the crown [sc. at Falkland Palace] 1669–70 Aberd. Shore Wk. Acc. 599.
For 3 iron claspes and aine iron tapen for the said worke
2. A plug, bung or stopper for a container. Also attrib.1543 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 112.
That all nichtboures … sendand for wyne to ony taverne haif thair pynts of just mesure merkett with the townis merk, and that the samyn haif ane talpoun as vse is in vther pairts 1543–4 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 115.
That all nychtbures … haif stowppis of mesour with tawponis in the hals, merket with the townis merk 1551 Edinb. B. Rec. II 161.
Tapponeattrib. 1641 Acts V 417/2.
And that no barrell be sooner made and blowne bot that the couperes birne be set … one the tapone staffe therof in testimony of the sufficiency of the tree
3. A wooden wad for a cannon.1532 Treas. Acc. VI 157.
For mappattis and tappounis [sc. for guns] 1544 Ayr Common Good Acc.
For making of talponis to the gunnys 1572 Treas. Acc. MS 242.
To ane turnour for his laubouris in turning of the taponis
4. A pin that triggers off the hammer mechanism of a clock.1621-40 Melville Commonpl. Bk. 29.
Of gryitt cloakes, … The going wark … The peas quheill … hath of taponis that liftis the hamer … 8
5. In fig. context: An outgrowth of the root of a plant; a subsidiary root.1641 Baillie I 298.
We trust God will putt them [sc. bishops] doun, bot the difficultie to gett all the tapouns of their roots pulled up are yet insuperable by the arme of man a1658 Durham Blessedness Death (1684) 71.
That which plucks up the roots and tapouns of sin, and slayes the motions of it
