A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Sincopa, n. [e.m.E. syncope (1653) in the following sense, ME syncopis, sincopin (c1400) failure of the heart's action, e.m.E. syncopa (1530) contraction of a word by omission of sounds or letters, late L. syncope, f. the Gk.] In music: Syncopation. —c1550-c1580 Art of Music 23b.
Sincopa in ane mensurall canticle … is ane reductione of ane noitt beand mair nor ane noit, or mair noittis till ane vthre or vtheris noittis, to the quhilkis in connuneration it dois properlye conwein. Or sincopa in ane mensurall sang is ane passaig of ane semebrewe or ane mynnym be the middis of tua, thrie [etc.] … noittis … eftir the arbitry of musicianis
