A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quhap, Whap, Whawp, n. (Cf. e.m.E. wap ‘a turn of a string wrapped round something’ (1545), also in the later north. Eng. and north-east Sc. dials. = ‘a splicing or joining made by means of a cord or twine tied round’, etc. (SND, s.v. Wap n.2 1).) Only in the proverbial expression there is a quhap in the rape, there is a joint (a potentially weak spot) in the rope, ‘there is a hitch somewhere’. —a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1530.
There is a quhap in the raip 1657 R. Moray Lett. 72.
There would have been a whawp in the rope if you had told me such a theaveless tale 1692 Presb. Eloq. (1692) 106.
There is a whap in the rape [pr. kape: gl. all's not well]
