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.
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.]
