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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Napkin, Napekine, Naipkin, Nepkine, Neipkin, n. Also: napkine, -kyn(e, -kaine, (-kynin), nappkyn; napekyn; naipkine, -kyn, -kein, -king; nepkyn, -king, -ken; neipkine, -kyn; neapkin(e, -kyn, -kein; also Naping and Naptaine. [Late ME. and e.m.E. nappekyn (1420), napekyn (Prompt. Parv.), napkin (a 1483), -kyn, appar. OF. nappe, also nape, a cloth, + dimin. suffix -kin.] A piece (? usu. square or oblong) of linen or other cloth with the following specific uses.

1. a. A (pocket-) handkerchief. b. A neckerchief.The usual uses also in the mod. dial.In the majority of instances the contexts are insufficiently specific to enable the examples to be distinguished with certainty.(a) 1436 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 139.
Vnum napkyn pro domino episcopo 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 419.
For sewin of serkis and napkinnis 1518 Ib. V. 147.
Napkynnis 1546 Ib. IX. 45.
My lorde governouris sarkis and napkynines [sic. in pr.] 1547 Ib. 83.
Napkynnes 1551 Ib. X. 18.
To be kemmyng claithis, nycht quaffisand napkynnis to his grace viij elnis holand claitht a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxviii. 100.
Thay snycht thocht thair na mister be That ȝe may thair trim napkyne se 1590 Crim. Trials. I. ii. 218.
Anie part … of foule linnen cloth … as shirt, handkercher, napkin or any other thing 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1822) 134.
We must do as those who keep the bloody napkin to the baillie, and let him see blood 1644 Edinb. Test. LXI. 1 b.
Thrie stand of clais … with sarkes, ruffes, napkines [etc.] 1656–7 Fam. Rose 367. 1682 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 28 Sept.
Marioune Willisone … confesses her ressait of the tuentie shilling peice and napkaine and ane night cap(b) 1551 Treas. Acc. X. 38.
Napekynnis 1584 Misc. Bann. C. I. 105.
His eyes being covered with a napekine or cloath(c) 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 150.
For vij quartaris of Hollande clayth to be naipkynnis to the King 1502 Ib. II. 38.
Naipkinnis 1511 Ib. IV. 322. 1522 Dunferm. B. Rec. 209.
Ane brest curch, ane naipkyn 1545–6 Treas. Acc. VIII. 438.
For ane doubill hanke of gold to corde the saidis naipkynnis 1564 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun 142.
The said Patrick shew certane cloutis and naipkynnis and laid the money … upoun ane burd 1576 Crim. Trials I. ii. 56.
He … coft ane pund of feggis and … put thame in his naipkin 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 236.
Thre naipkynnis of crisp [etc.] 1583 Prot. Bk. J. Borthwick 16.
The soum of iiij^xx ix merkis knyt in ane naipkyn 1585 Reg. Privy C. IV. 35.
They stoppit ane naipkine in hir thrott 1591 Crim. Trials I. ii. 254.
The slauchter … of ane barne … be rubbing of hir face with youre naipkin … quhen sche fell vpoune the calsey 1600 Ib. II. 357. 1602 Tailor's Acc. Bk. 29.
For twa camrage naipkinnis 1613 Edinb. Test. XLVII. 226b.
Sex dosane of gold knapis to naipkinis 1618 Ib. L. 78. 1622-6 Bisset II. 342/2.
Ane naipkin … quhairin he … imprentted the ressemblance of his visaige 1623 Inverness Rec. II. 162.
Ane naipkein of holland claith sewit about with goldin threid and goldin knappis 1632 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. iii. 235.
Naipkine(d) 1585 Perth B. Ct. 27 Apr.
Item four sarkis & four nekkis, item tua nepkynnis 16.. Nat. Lib. MS. 22.2.11 penult. p.
Dipe the end of the nepking in the patients water 1609 Crim. Trials III. 46.
Nepkyn 1662 Haigs of Bemersyde 472. 1674 Sc. Ant. I. 178.
For my poynt nepken 13 lib. 14 s. 1676 Forbes Baron Ct. 301.
[That] he hade gotten blood and called for a nepkyne from his wyfe to keap it(e) 1530 Balmerino & L. Chart. 32.
xxj neipkins & brest cowrchis … thre nek cowrchis 1565 Treas. Acc. XI. 421.
Smale lynnyng to be sarkis, neipkynnis and muchis 1566 Old Ross-shire I. 58.
Tway sarks with ij neipkynis 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 21. 1621 Acts IV. 625/2.
That no persoun … salhave pearling or ribbening vpoun thair ruffes sarkis neipkines and sokkis except [etc.](f) 1558-66 Knox II. 387.
Skarslie could Marnock hir secreat chalmer-boy gett neapkynes to hold hyr eyes drye for the tearis 1603 Moysie Mem. 54.
Ane quhyt neapkein 1600-1610 Melvill 25.
With twa piece of gold in a neapkine 1684 Monimail Reg. Ct. 29 Apr.
His neapkin full of blood

c. Attrib. with knop (knap) (= tassel), nucke (= corner), teap (= tape). 1592 Edinb. Test. XXIV. 73 b.
Certane naipkin knoppis sauld for ij s. 1617 Ib. XLIX. 267.
Naipkin knapis — 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 819.
Ten pundis stirling furth he tuike And knit it in a neapkyn nucke — 1658 Brechin Test. VI. 163.
Four pair of bandstringes sex stand of napkine teaps [etc.]

2. a. An altar-cloth. a 1500 Coll. St. Salvator 158.
Tua nappkynnis for the he alter ane nedill werk and ane dornwik 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 129.
Ane chaleis … thre naipkingis ane broodin and tua quhyt

b. Appar., a table-napkin.The commonest Eng. use: the Sc. word for this was serviet, serviot, servit. 1697 Old Ross-shire I. 129.
Ane dossone damask and dornick table clothes and twelff dossone nepkines estimat to Ic. lib.