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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Knap, n.¹ Also: knapp, knaip. [Later Sc. var. of Knop n., with normal a for o before p.Cf., however, ME. (1362) and e.m.E. knappe, knap(p, in the same senses, appar. repr. ON. knapp-r knob, stud, button, etc.]

1. An ornamental knob, boss, or stud. = Knop n. 1. 1582 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 121.
iiij naillis scharp at bayth the endis to naill tua knaipis to the heid of the pulpett 1596–7 Dundee B. Laws 145.
[To] decore the wark be putting on ewerie cunȝie … ane knap with ane fyall thairvpon 1626 Edinb. Test. LIII. 318 b.
Four grit busis of fedderis vpon the knappis of the beddis 1628-9 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 255.
The lyon unicorne and four theanes of the prikis with thair knapis to be giltit 1637 9th Rep. Hist MSS. App. 194/1.
Ane Inglis bit withe knapis ovirgilt on the cheik c1650 Spalding II. 217.
The bak of the hie altar … weill carvit with golden knappis 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII. 350.
For making, guilding and painting 4 litle knaps for the tops of the branches [sc. candelabra] 1695 Ib. II. 234.

2. a. A tassel. 1562 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 648/2.
Three knappis to ane bede 1566 Treas. Acc. MS. 73.
xxiiij hankis of gold to be frenȝeis, knappis and fasis a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxviii. 102.
Thay snyt thocht thair na mister be That ȝe may thair trim napkyne se … The goldin knappis sall hing the gidder 1581 Treas. Acc. MS. 812 b.
To the broudstare for making of the said knappis 1588 Edinb. Test. XIX. 161 b.
Tua knap of tall bonnettis at tua markis the pece 1603 Treas. Acc. MS. 276.
The knap to knet vp ane of hir maiesteis hors taillis 1618 Edinb. Test. L. 78.
Ten gros knapis for naipkinis price of all thrie pundis 1648 Thanes of Cawdor 307.
12 stand of pocket napkin knaps 1694 Inchmahome Pr. 161.
Gold knaps to the bed

b. A jewelled ornament in a necklace etc. = Knop n. 2 b. 1579 Inv. Wardrobe 279.
Ane cheinyie … maid with … sparks of turkassis … and … little knappis betuix thame 1587 Edinb. Test. XVII. 242 b.
Ane … cheinȝie corslinkit with fyve knappis 1591 Melville Chart. 133.
Ane cheinȝie of gold, contenand awcht lang knappis with ane round knap and a peirll at the end 1618 Test. in Sempill P. p. xlvii.
Ane cheynȝe of gold with ane knap in forme of pig at the end thairof

3. a. The point of the elbow. a1578 Pitsc. I. 299/30.
William Meldrum … the knappis of his elbokkis strikin fre him 1592 Reg. Privy C. V. 12.
Thay … woundit him … in his richt arme, and hes maid him impotent … thairof be strykeing away the knap of his elbok 1652 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 242.
Ane poore woman … quha had the knap of hir elbow struckin from hir

b. The shin of beef.‘The nap or shin’ (H. Stephens Bk. of the Farm (1844) II. 169). 1688 Edinb. B. Rec. XI. 275.
Boutcher flesh … the hogh of the best beeff, knapps and neck peeces 00 01 2 Ib. 276.
The hoghs, knaps and neck peeces