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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GOWP, v.¹, n.¹ Also goup. Variant forms of Gaup, q.v. [gʌup]

I. v. 1. To gaze open-mouthed, to gape, to stare, esp. upwards (Bnff.¹² 1860; Abd., em.Sc., Dmf., Slk. 1955). Also in Cum. dial.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 92:
As they're thus cracking, a' the house thrangs out, Gouping an' gazing at this new come rout.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxvii.:
The minister's servant hizzies were sure to be oot goupin' an' govin' after me.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xlvi.:
As I cam' up the Green, fa' sud be stannin' there, gowpin' an' luikin' at the antic mannie o' the Wall, but Peter?Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 201:
Awa' wi' yer blandishments, Lucky MacFlirt! Ye gowpit ower heich, an' ye've fa'n in the dirt.Edb. 1928 A. D. Mackie Poems 38:
That wean's wild face . . . Wi' the first wonder o' Adam himsel, Gowpin' at the sky.Ags. 1952 Forfar Dispatch (22 May):
We goupit at libraries, blide no' tae be responsible for the stour-chasin.Edb. 1955 Bulletin (6 Oct.):
A favourite occupation with the “rough” was “window gowping.” With the sash raised they would sit for hours with elbows on the sill watching passers-by and exchanging greetings with friends.

2. In n.phrs.: †(1) gowp in the lift, “a squint or cast in the eye” (Sc. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.); †(2) goup-the-lift, goup-a-liftie, a nick-name given to “one who has a habit of carrying his head high, either through pride, or through paralysis of the eye-lids” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 69), or to one with a cast in the eye.(2) Bch. 1842 Blackwood's Mag. (March) 301:
“It's Goup-the-lift ye're seeking,” cried the girl, “and fat the deevil for dinna ye speer for the man by his richt name at ance?”Bch. 1930 Abd. Univ. Review (March) 109:
Fin yer man wiz . . . at the skweel he was ringle-e'et, an' the loons 'd eest ta ca' 'im Goup-the-lift.

¶3. Rarely used tr. with cogn. obj. = to open (wide).Sc. 1933 W. Soutar Seeds in the Wind 10:
Then ane laucht a lauch. Gowpin wide his gab.

II. n. A stare, a gaze upwards, an open-mouthed gape; a stupid or anxious look (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 69: Ags. 1955). Also in ne.Lan. dial.Per. 1888 R. Ford Glentoddy 76:
He wad gie a sudden goup up wi' his head an' exclaim, “Dod, I cud swear I felt a spark o' rain on my nose this meenit.”Ags. 1952 Forfar Dispatch (11 Sept.):
The ruins ee castle's no' far alang the road and we'd a gude gowp at them.