Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CATLOUP, -LOWP, n. A short distance (lit. as far as a cat can jump); extended also to mean a short time. Known to Abd. correspondents, Ags.17, Fif.10 1938. [′kɑt′lʌup]Sc. 1825 Jam.2:
I'se be wi' ye in a catloup.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 230:
It maun be near haun fifty 'ear sin syne, for I was juist a bit lassock at the time, within a cat-lowp o' seventeen.Slk. 1818 Hogg Brownie of Bodsbeck I. i.:
He saw a white thing an' a black thing coming up the Houm close thegither; they cam by within three catloups o' him.