Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1700, 1772-1810, 1880-1887, 1949
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LAPSTER, n. Also labster. Gen.Sc. forms of Eng. lobster (Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 685).Sc. 1700 Foulis Acct. Bk. (S.H.S.) 278:
For dinner … lapster and partans and brandie … £2. 18. 6.Edb. 1772 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 66:
Their spindle-shanks the labsters trail, Wi' partans plenty.Rnf. a.1810 R. Tannahill Poems (1876) 323:
Her red rosy neb's like a labster tae.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 56:
Afore folk began tae fish lapsters.Sc. 1887 Stevenson Merry Men ii.:
Labsters an' partans, an' sick-like, howking in the deid.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 25:
Fleured flooks, skate, rid flooks swalled oot o' aa shape, lapsters, an' Guid kens what mair.
Combs.: lobster buckie, the hermit crab, Pagurus pollicaris (Abd. 1815 J. Arbuthnot Fishes 58); lapster-clap, a hooked stick used to catch lobsters in the rocks at low water (Cai. 1907 County of Cai. (Horne) 77); labster-creel, a lobster-trap (Cai. 1909 D. Houston 'E Silkie Man 11). Gen.Sc.; lapster-kist, a box floated in the water in which lobsters are kept alive till sent to market (Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Ork., Cai., Ags. 1960); lobster toad, the sea spider, Macrocheira kampferi (Abd. 1815 J. Arbuthnot Fishes 58).
[O.Sc. lapstar, a.1568. See P.L.D. §54.]
