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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HOWP, n.², v.² Also houp. Dim. houpie, howpie. [hʌup]

I. n. A mouthful of liquid, the quantity of liquid swallowed in one gulp, a draught, esp. of liquor, a dram (Mry. 1825 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1957).Bnff. 1857 Banffshire Jnl. (25 April 1916):
The time left available was spent in the resting game of “Five Stanes” with not an infrequent opening of the “piece pyokie,” and a “houp” from the bottle.Knr. 1886 H. Haliburton Horace 29:
An' get a howp in ilka cheek O' halesome livin'.Mry. 1914 H. J. Warwick Tales 128:
Having consoled himself with the small remainder of his milk, he considered ruefully — “A houpie o' that 'll nae haud me gyaun sair for vera lang.”Sc. 1931 J. Lorimer Red Sergeant xxviii.:
“Tak' a houp o' this.” He held a phial . . . to the Red Sergeant's lips.Crm. 1935 W. J. W.:
Cromarty people decline to eat haddock in the spring and until they get three houps of May water — i.e. three tides.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick vi.:
The rhythmical noise of the “houps” during supping proceeded all round the table.

†II. v. To swallow in mouthfuls, to gulp down.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 81:
He hauds an unco preean an' houpan at that ale. He's surely (or seerly) nae plaist wee't.