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 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

S(c)hip, Schyp, n. Also: s(c)hipp(e, s(c)hipe, chip, scip, skip, s(c)hype, scyp, syp; s(c)hep(e, s(c)heip, scheipe, scheipp. [ME and e.m.E. scip (c1200), schip (a1225), schepe (c1350), schup (Piers Plowman), shipe (c1386), OE scip str. neut., ON skip.]

1. A ship, a sea-going vessel.For further examples, see Barge n., Bate n.¹, Crayar n., Crear(e n., Farcost n., Schallop n., etc.; Birth n.², Coket n. 1, Ladin(g vbl. n., Ladining vbl. n., Los(s)in(g vbl. n.³, etc.; Enter v. 5 d, etc.(1) 1402 Dundee Chart. No. 22.
Al shippis comand … wythin the watir of Taye 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
Thai … leite hym wit qwar the schip was rydand Ib. No. 59.
Yhour men … hade takyne … certayne Scottis schippis chargit with marchandis & the marchandis thar of ?14.. Ship Laws c. 22 (B).
Gyf he may nocht mende the schyp he may hyre ane vthyr a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 250.
Apone that riche river … Scippis saland 1490 Acta Conc. I 159/2.
Awand to thaim … for thare half parte of ane schip callit the Trinite of Cowper 1492 Kennedy Aberd. Ann. II 475.
Ale the haile salt being within the Inglis schip 1493 Acts II 235/1.
That thair be schippis and buschis maid in all … townis … and at the leist of the said schippis … be of xx tun … and with marynaris nettis and vther graith conuenient for the taking of greit fische & small 1501 Treas. Acc. II 101.
Giffin to ane man to pas with the kingis lettrez to Toyar to caus ane schip to be restorit thare 1503–4 Ib. 284.
The dok quhair the schip is biggit 1513 Doug. xi vii 80.
And we sal furnys heir The irne graith, the wark men, and the wrychtis, And all that to the schippis langis of rychtis 1515–16 Treas. Acc. V 70.
The schip callit the Christoffir 1517 Ib. 129.
For making of ane kahowt in the ship for the halkis 1531–2 Ib. VI 56.
Gudis cumin on land furtht of the Franche schip that brak on that cost 1540 Aberd. B. Rec. I 173.
The young men that passis in the schip to the kingis seruice 1544 Reg. Privy S. III 133/1.
With ane schip or schippis of the birth of ane hundreth tunnis or under 1557–8 Crim. Trials I i 400.
Thir schippis that is cumit to Leyth is menne of weir and Scottis merchandis 1560 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 21.
That na ship … lay too hir braid syde to liver or load at the shoar 1562-3 Winȝet I 3/19.
And … speidis baith with airis and erect salis, to brek in splenderis the schip on the feirful rokis 1571–2 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. VII 64.
For ane dosoun of rufe spar and ane dosoun of garroun upoun the last of Julii in Abirlady at the schip … for the … saill of the chip 1596 Dalr. II 311/8.
Monseur Vilagnon with sum shipis and four galayes louses at Leith and directes sayl to France a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 137.
Shipp 1602 Conv. Burghs II 144.
Gif ane schip cums to skaith vpoun ane vther schipis anker, lyand without ane buy 1608–9 Misc. Spald. C. V 85.
Alex^r Dauidsone, tymmerman, maister of wark to the new schip 1622-6 Bisset II 247/6.
Thai may set in the wecht of there portaige in the schip meit to ilk ane of theme 1629 Boyd Last B. 66.
As the shippe in a tempest goeth with a low saile 1632 Justiciary Cases I 197.
The said schip being lying at the new kie of Leith … and hir haill durris and poirtis being … cloiset lockit and maid fast 1647 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 110.
Shipp 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 502.
A ship loaden with fine wares … a leek struck up in the ship 1689 Acts XII 71/1.
That one imbarguo be layed on all shipps goeing to France(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxi 301.
Quhen the schipe wes brokyn One a burd thane are we lopyne Ib. 794. c1420 Wynt. viii 4261.
The grettast a schype off thame al 1494 Treas. Acc. I 251.
The tymmyr of the brokyne schype 1591 Conv. Burghs I 360.
Certane coper … furth of ane schipe 1600-1610 Melvill 257. 1641 Acts V 418/1.
Ther being bot tuo boates to ilke schipe … quhich they doe heerby liberat and exeeme from all payment of any duetie 1649 Lamont Diary 2 (see S(c)hip v. 4 (3)).
Shipe(c) 1686 Short Accoumpt Earl of Argyls Invasion 1685 14.
A skip was coursing too and fru, betwixt the coasts of Boot and the Lowlands(d) a1400 Leg. S. vii 370.
Quhat schepe that brokine ware A-pone that coste 1468 Smit Bronnen I ii 1019.
I gert letteris pas tyll arest all the schepis qwhyll the said day off delyverans 1530–1 Wigtown B. Ct. fol. 240a.
That Patrek M^cBowrne pay … for the terd part of the schep [etc.] 1536 Douglas Corr. 145.
The King of Scottis is departid out of Scotland, accompanid with v sheppes 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 73.
Thar es an schep comen in Clayd afor the castel of Dombartan 1589-1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 53a.
For doune bereing our pege nos to the schepe 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 3b.
For the pasport & clirin the shep Ib. 19b.
For the menes met quhen they lebert the shepe 1686 Dunlop P. III 20.
Shep(e) 1460 Hay Alex. 3054.
Nother bate scheipp barge na galay 1557 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 150.
Spoulȝeatioun … of the how of ane scheip of the said Alexris callit the Reisbark a1578 Pitsc. I 228/2.
Thrie greit scheipis weill man steid, weill wittallit and artaillȝeit 1669 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 205.
Sheip(2) 1375 Barb. xv 281, 285.
The king his schippis thar gert draw … He gert men rapys and mastis ta And set thaim in the schippis hey And sayllis to the toppis tey c1400 Troy-bk. i 209.
Quhar thai thar shype gert hastely [Be] herbreyt 1428 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXXI 143.
The day that Gurlay syp ȝed by 1489 Treas. Acc. I 129.
Eftir at the kingis schip wes chaysit in Dumbertane be the Inglismen 1493 Edinb. Chart. 173.
The payment to thame of thair anchorage custumes and dewiteis of thare schippis 1506 (1525) Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 249.
I leif to Richart Lesk … my Inglis schipe wyth all geir 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 114.
For ballasting of his schip callit the Lioun 1513 Doug. v xii 161.
Plankis and gestis … Into thar schippis ionand with mony a dynt 1518–19 Edinb. B. Rec. I 187.
Tome Mertene … hes lattin his schip commonly till fraucht till the nichtbouris of the towne 1535 Treas. Acc. VI 262.
For outtredding of the kingis gracis schip towart Deip 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 193.
To Richard Stewart for … iiii wolkis … beand in the kingis schippis 1553 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 27 Aug.
Thomas Halbertsone skipper hes enterit hes schip in the bukis of Hadingtoun befoir the provest … and hes within her to be sald [etc.] 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix 45.
Quhat chargis wes hir [sc. France's] schipis at? c1650 Spalding I 213.
The Lord Aboyne … gois aboord in his awin schip 1692 Conv. Burghs IV 595.
John Ramsays ship goeing for Dantzick with a loadning of salt(3) c1420 Wynt. viii 4256.
A flot off schyppys in Forth come swne 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 81.
I heir say certane naveis of Inglys schippis ar to cum with men of veir 1596 Dalr. II 430/20.
An Inglis nauie to the number of xvj verie weil instructet schipis and weil furnist(4) ?14.. Ship Laws c. 1 (H2).
Off the makin of a mane maistir of a schip 1516 Wigtown B. Ct. fol. 58b.
For the clerks of the scheppis 1526 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 250.
The scipparis and awnaris of the schipis of Scotland 1561 Aberd. B. Rec. I 333.
The said Henrik beand skipper of the said Rosto schipe … and Claus Normond, boittis man of his schipe a1578 Pitsc. I 355/17.
The skiper of the scheipe 1580 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 200.
James Gudlet, clerk of the schip callit the Lyoun of Dundie — ?14.. Ship Laws c. 7 (H1).
Off lawis of schippis [Bute MS scyppis] & schipmene 1480–1 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 38.
The customes of the aventures of schippis ar sett … with all daynger of weir … to James Richardsoun(5) 1572 Canongate Ct. Bk. 374.
Twa steik of guddis furit in the said schip pertening to him for his said schipis parte 1577 Reg. Privy C. II 657.
He … reft fra the said David his haill schippis ladynning 1591 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 428.
This bell stok wes maid off ane auld schipps balk 1595 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 8b.
To the schepes mane of hes feye iiii poundis 1597 Ib. 21a.
To the schipis man for his wagis 4 lib. 1602 Conv. Burghs II 144 (see (1) above). 1605 Edinb. Test. XL 56b.
Ane schippis keill price thairof xx li.

b. Without article, chiefly in special phrases introduced by a preposition. 1365 Rot. Sc. 893/2.
La Seinte Marie shipp de Aberden 1375 Barb. xvi 698.
He went to schip 1393 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 27.
Al the wol [etc.] … that gais be schipe owte of wre hafine of Spee c1400 Troy-bk. i 195.
Thare harnes all to schype thai bar c1420 Wynt. i 414.
To schype that foule came noucht agayne Ib. iv 1347.
Be schype he tuk the se Ib. ii 1664.
Off Troy quhen that Eneas Buskyd hym wytht schype to pas ?14.. Ship Laws c. 13 (B).
The schypmen may bere syk kechyne furth as vsage of schyp is 1506 Treas. Acc. III 337.
Quhen the king wes in schip c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 235.
To scip thai went 1513 Doug. iii ii 21.
Al wery beyn we yschit furth of [Ruddim. out of] schip 1584 Gowrie P. 37.
I entered in shipp

c. Personified as masculine or feminine by the use of the appropriate pronoun.For instances of the latter, see Scho pron. 2, Hir pron. 2 and Hir possess. pron. (2). ?14.. Ship Laws c. 2 (B).
Gyfe ony schyp … cum tyl ony havyn … he sal gyf for his set in the havyn xii d. Ib. c. 19 (A).
A schip cumis in sauf with his chargis Ib. c. 29 (B).
Ane vthir schip cummys and strykys hym and he is hurte of the strake

d. transf. Those managing the financial affairs of a ship, collectively; the crew or company of a ship. 1456 Hay I 67/13.
In schippis … men makis ay ane patroun and maister our the lave to governe … all the membris of the schip 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 16b.
The shep wos ovene me at the coumpes makin the last tyme 426 li. 15 s. 7 d. … The shep wos dowe to me befor I cam to Lundin 439 li. 15 s. 7 d.

e. The (kingis) gret schip, the ‘Great Michael’, the huge warship commissioned by James IV for the Scottish navy. 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 313.
To iij Scottis trumpatis playand at the outputting of the kingis gret schipe 1512 Ib. 280.
For the making of ane dok to the gret schip Ib. 296.
For the paintre of the kingis gret schip 1513 Ib. 478, etc.
For the calfetyn of the greit schippis fordek

f. fig. In various applications.(One's) ship, in references to one's fortunes in life. Also, in references to church or state.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. I 154/17.
Sche [sc. the Virgin Mary] is the schip closit benethe and opin aboue. … Jhesus … enterit in this haly schip … and sailit throu this present seye and waurld(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 21/165.
Thou mak my schip in blissit port arrive, That saillis heir in stormes violent 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv Prol. 104.
Wanting the grace when he shuld guyde the ruther He lattis his scheip tak in at luife and lie(3) a1570-86 Kennedy Maitl. F. 235/29.
The schip of faythe is stormyt with wynd and rayne Off heresye a1538 Abell 121b.
Our maistrace the kirk of Rome. … qhow ma the schep be perturbit quhare Petir is skipper 1562-3 Winȝet I 10/8.
In the samyn schipe of the commoun welth of this realme 1651 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 640.
Wee obtest and exhorte you … that ȝe abandon not the schipe of the comonwelthe in this tempest

g. A representation of a ship. a1649 Inv. of Pictures in Hamilton Mun. MS 67.
4 shipps and a landskippe of Flussiere

2. With defining word or phrase, indicating type or function. ?14.. Ship Laws c. 5 (B).
Gyf ony fysschare schyp chargyt wyth … fysch [etc.] Ib.
A lytyl bothomyt schyp 1428 Edinb. Chart. 63.
Hulkis and foircastellit schippes c1450-2 Howlat 774 (A).
Sound saland on the se schippis of towre c1475 Wall. ix 146.
The wer schippis was lappyt thaim about 1515 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 31.
All schippis of weir 1540 Aberd. B. Rec. I 173.
To the prepairing of the schip of veir to the kingis grace 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 87.
In cais he fyndis ony were schippis of Scotland in France [etc.] 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 74.
Ane Franche schip of weir a1568 Bann. MS 249b/35.
Schippis off tour and ballingeris of weir c1575 Balfour Pract. 51.
Schipis of weirfair pertenand to ony strangeris that cumis within the read, havin or port of Leyth c1650 Spalding I 332.
Oure marchand Scottis schippis … had to Bervick … thair goodis liverit

3. Applied to Noah's ark. c1420 Wynt. i 384.
Ane ark … That in owre tyme oysyde we The schype to call it of Noe Ib. 407.

4. An incense boat. 1454 Inv. in Dundee B. Ct. I fol. 3b.
A censar of siluer with a schip of bras c1500 Coll. St. Salvator 161.
Tua censouris of siluyr with ane schip and ane spwn off siluer 1558–9 Edinb. B. Rec. III 28.
Ane ship for insence 1559 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I xci.
A little ship of 16½ ounce 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. II 91.

5. A shipful. = S(c)hipful(l n. 1532 Wigtown B. Ct. fol. 262a.
Ane schyp of ange wyne contenand xvi thovnes

6. attrib. and comb.Schip-fontane, a device for making salt water drinkable. Schip-kist, a sea-chest or seaman's trunk. See also Kist n. 1 b and se-kist (Se n. III 16 attrib. and comb. (10)). Scheip portar, a ferry-man or, perhaps, ? a ferry-boat. Ship-rae, sail-yard (Ra n.²⁾. Schipstaf, ‘the pole at the lower end of a salmon-net which is drawn across the river by the boat’ (SND, s.v. Ship n. 2). Also in the later dial. of Aberdeenshire.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 482.
Gyf thou has macht To pay thame thi schip fraucht [etc.] 1538 Treas. Acc. VI 395.
For ane schip fraucht … to Sanctandrois — 1491 Treas. Acc. I 181.
The schip hyre and oder costis maid be him(2) 1515–16 Treas. Acc. V 67.
Edward Cokburn to cum befor the lordis auditouris of the schip comptis 1597 Edinb. B. Rec. V 199.
To twa schip brokin Frenchemen … fourtein pund furth of the schip boxe(3) 1503 Treas. Acc. II 282.
To the sawaris of the schip tymir in the wod, x Franch crounis 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) 29.
xi peis of auld schip tymmer cummand for walplaitis to the roundis in the tour 1558 Treas. Acc. X 437.
For … grit aikin schip tymmer for melting of the said gros culvering 1611 Edinb. Test. XLVI 210b.
Certane small schip timber estimat to xxix li. 1653 Fam. Innes 172.
For knappell and wther schip tymber … For hair lyme tackettis and lath for plasterour — 1618 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 119.
For xix schip plankis of xviii fute long to naill on the cannones and athort them Ib.
For schip plankis to be tua plattfurmes for the battries(4) 1506 Treas. Acc. III 196.
Thom Gourlay, wricht, that turnis the schip blokkis 1547–8 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 132.
George Gordoun to … bring vp his guids inbrocht be the schip callit the Fleying Hairt and contenit thairin … to this burgh except apillis wynes and vnyeouns and that he sell the samyn … and the saidis aipillis … and vnȝeouns on the schip boddum and schore of Leyth … siclyke 1586 Reg. Privy C. IV 122.
Schip saillis 1590 Nat. Lib. MS 34.2.17, 21.
Ane schip basing with ane lauer 1591 Misc. Spald. C. III 161.
Ane great chaine of irne and ship mastis linkit together 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Antenna, a ship-rae 1624 Brechin Test. IV 141b.
Half of ane bark with hir ornamentis & schipreid estimat to ij lib. 1626 Reg. Great S. 355/2.
Instrumentum quo aqua salsa dulcis effecta est, quod pēgonautikon vulgo schip-fontane appellatum est 1643 Edinb. Test. LX 246b.
Schip tarre at ix lib. the barrell — 1502 Acta Conc. III 190.
[£400 Scots] for the furnising, furthputtin, and till haf made reddy with all maner of schipgraith, the schip callit the Egyll 1533 Boece 377.
The residew … tynyng mast saill, ruddir and thare remanent schip graith returnit 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 582.
Aganis the personis havaris and detenaris of the said schip grayth in thair handis c1575 Balfour Pract. 633.
Of all and haill quhilk sall be drownit and win out of the sea to land, als weill ship-graith, haill cordis, and flot-raipis of nettis, as barrellis and tunnis that fleittis, the thrid part sall pertene to him, or thame, that sall draw it out and saif it, and the thrid part to the admiral, and ane uther thrid part to our soverane lord 1611 Edinb. Test. XLVI 210.
Certane schip graith sic as ankeris cabillis and towis 1622-6 Bisset II 213/26. — 1529 Reg. Great S. 178/1.
A schip kist 20 d. 1581 Brechin Test. I 47.
Ane litell schipe kist 1583 St. A. Test. II 23.
Ane schip kist price x s.(5) 1447 Aberd. B. Rec. MS IV p. 477 (17 April).
And thai sal noght close the watter with thair nettis swa that ane schal noght row owir to schute his nett quhill his falow hafe bowit his schipstaf hamewart the third pert of his net(6) ?1438 Alex. ii 479.
Vthir passage nane thare was Bot ane bait and ane schip-grome [F. notonnier] a1538 Abell 125b.
Sanct Bernard sais: This warld hes maid ane scheip portar callit deid quhilk of all the riches at ane man brwkit heir it lattis nocht haif furth with him ane penny(7) 1596 Dalr. I 127/8.
Quha is ouir haevinis and schipredes thay cal admiral(8) 1613 Conv. Burghs II 391.
The said magistrat sall … assist the said [Scottish] natioun [in Middleburgh] with schip-hoyes and all vther necessars 1635 Sutherland Bk. II 159.
The Saxone … maid a schippe bridge ower the Elff(9) 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 193.
v elnis skerlet to be the king ane schip sclop with ane hud(10) c1680 Dauney Anc. Sc. Melodies 23.
We renounce … hornings, letters of adjudications, ships-passes [v.r. ship passes], prophanity [etc.]