Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721-1864
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STAMP, n.2 Also †stampt. A trap, esp. one which grips the victim by the foot, a gin-trap (Sc. 1808 Jam., as in combs. rotten-stamp for rats, foumart-stamp, for weasels or polecats). Comb. rat-stamp (Per., Fif. 1971).Kcd. 1721 Urie Court Bk. (S.H.S.) 119:
The killing of hares, doves, draick, and others are expressly prohibited to be killed with guns, pistollis, stampts, or other ingines.Per. 1738 Caled. Mercury (25 April):
A certain Butcher of this Town, whose House was much molested with Spanish Rats, caused make a Stamp for catching these Vermin.Edb. 1782 Caled. Mercury (11 May):
Large stamps, that will break a man's leg.Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 53:
Mony a trap, an' stamp, an' snare.Ags. 1830 Perthshire Advert. (3 June):
A fox, which was caught in a stamp at Cortachy.Fif. 1864 St Andrews Gaz. (24 Dec.):
Guilty to having stolen three rabbit stamps from a warren.
