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.
OWERCOUP, v. Also owr(e)coup, o(v)er-. To overturn, tip over, upset, to turn over, lit. and fig. See Coup, v.1 [ʌu(ə)r′kʌup]Abd. 1746 W. Forbes Dominie Deposed (1765) 31:
And sometimes lasses over-coup Upo' their keels.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 126, 172:
But soon owrecoupit by the feeblest storm. . . . Wi' maw owrcoupin' like to spue.Bnff. 1869 W. Knight Auld Yule 79:
An owlet futherin' in a tree O'ercoupit his philosophy.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 126:
The wee'st thochtie tak's my heid, an' feckly me owre-coups.e.Lth. 1908 J. Lumsden Th' Loudons 130:
To owre-coup it in the waves.
