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.

Cowp, Cowpe, n.² [ON. kaup, or f. Cowp v.²] An act or course of trading; a bargain. Also attrib. and comb. with barrell, beir, bill, -setting. 1576 Oppress. Orkney 64.
At the cowp settein of everie schip and merchannis wairis thairoff, it was the use that the comownis … gat ane cowp barrell of beir at the said cowpsetting 1601 Calderwood VI. 111.
As for Seggene, as they say, it goeth light cowpe 1602 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 145.
The Dutche merchandis … having thair cowpis sett and thair toillis ressaivit for keiping of ane lawfull tred of merchandrice 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. 78.
That the Dutche men … obserwe and keipe the contentis of thair cowpe bill this ȝeir