Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Calp, Caup, n. Also: kalp, caulp (cawylpne); cape. [Sc. and Ir. Gaelic colpa ‘a full grown animal, whether cow or horse; taken as the unit for grazing animals’. Cf. also Sc. Gael. colpach ‘duty payable by tenants to landlords’.]

1. The ‘best aucht’ (see Best a. 1 b) in the possession of a tenant, claimed on his decease by the superior. 1510 Breadalbane Doc. (Reg. H.) No. 38.
The saidis Johne and Gregor … gyffis to the said Schir Duncan and his airis … thair calpis, … that is the best aucht in thair hous the tymes of thair deceis 1519 Thanes of Cawdor 130.
To geff to the forsaid Sir Johne and his aris our calp kenkennoll and our manrent acontrare all man at levis Ib. 131.
We … sall gif to the said Sir Jhon in token of our manrent … our kalp as use is 1547 Breadalbane Doc. (Reg. H.) No. 64.
Quhen ony of thaym decessis [he] sall leyf to me or my ayris ane cawylpne of kenkynȝe as is vsit in the contrees abowt 1549–50 Ib. No. 71.
The personis abonewritin … gifis and disponis to the said Colyne and his airis thair calpis, that is to say the best beist, hors, mair, ox, or cow, being in thair possessiouns in tyme of thair discesse c 1550 Ib. No. 77.
The saidis William Malcum and Donald … sall gif to the said Collin thair cheif … ane kalp 1551 Black Bk. Taymouth 191.
The said Collin … sall haif the dew dewty that ane cheif and maister aucht to haif fra him and his perpetuallie [to witt] calpis 1570 Thanes of Cawdor 177.
[They] hes giffin … thair manrent and calpe … as ane cheyff … aucht to haiff 1594 Acts IV. 72/2.
Quha hes … gevin band of mantinence to the thevis … or receavis thair cawlpis and hereȝeldis 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v.
In the Iles and Hie-lande of this realme, the calpes are presentlie payed by him, quha oblishes him theirfore, after his decease. Swa the … calpe is given be special paction and obligation 1617 Acts IV. 548/2.
The gryit hurt … whiche his Maiesties liegis haue susteyned … by the cheffis off Clannis … by the vnlauchfull taking frome thame … efter thair deceis vnder the name of caulpes off thair best aucht, quhither it be ox, mear, hors, or cow 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 438.
Warrand to the saids justices … to sitt, cognosce and proceid … aganis the uplifteris or intromettours with calps discharged be Act of Parliament 1629 Ib. III. 23.
[That every … broken man should be accounted the man and servant of the person] to quhom he payes his calpes and hereȝelds(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 50.
Syne leif I the best aucht I bocht, Quod est Latinum proper caupe [B. cape] 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v.
Ane notable oppression is used in taking vp of the caupe

2. A gift made by a tenant to his superior or chief in return for his support and protection. 1489 Acts II. 214/2.
Tuiching the takin of cawpis vsit be heddis of kyn in Galloway, the Kingis hienes … thinkis expedient … that all thai quhilkis clamis to haf sic cawpis be warnit [etc.] Ib. 222/1.
Becaus it wes menit and complenȝeit, … that certane gentilmen, heddis of kyn in Galloway, has vsit to tak cawpis Ib.
As tuiching the cawpis taking in Carrik 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v.
Caupes, Calpes, in Galloway and Carrict, signifies ane gift, sic as horse, or vther thing, quhilk ane man in his awin life-time … giues to his maister … and speciallie to the head & chiefe of the clan, for his maintenance & protection