Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1708-1743
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TAP, n.3, v.3 Sc. usages of Eng. tap, a spigot.
I. n. In comb. tap-tree, a bung or wooden plug inserted in the outlet hole of a tub, esp. for brewing (Sc. 1702 Foulis Acct. Bk. (S.H.S.) 305; Cai. 1905 E.D.D.).Mry. 1708 E. D. Dunbar Social Life (1865) 212:
A lead and fatt and taptree and masken shield.Sc. 1743 R. Maxwell Select Trans. 284.:
Take out your Cork, or Tap-tree, and have a tub below to receive the Lee.
II. v. To beg, solicit alms, in derivs. tapper, a beggar, tapping, begging (Gsw. 1934 E. Partridge Dict. Slang; Fif., w.Lth., wm.Sc. Dmf. 1972). Cf. colloq. Eng. tap, to get money out of.
[O.Sc. taptrie, 1685.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Tap n.3, v.3". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/tap_n3_v3>
