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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HOWP, n.¹, v.¹ Also howpe (Abd. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 47), houp(e) (Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 184, Ayr. 1786 Burns Jolly Beggars Air vi., Ags. 1872 J. Kennedy Jock Craufurt 25); hu(i)p (Ork. 1939 Orcadian (15 June)); hoop (Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 318, Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 219; I.Sc. 1957). Sc. forms of Eng. hope, expectation, desire, to expect with desire (Sc. 1724 Ramsay Ever Green I. 216; Rnf. 1815 W. Finlayson Rhymes 84; Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders xxii.; Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 22; Cai., Abd., Ags., Rxb. 1957); hopp.

Hence howpfu, hopeful (Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 30). [e.Sc. hʌup; I.Sc. hup]

Sc. forms:Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 66:
"A'll go," he grunted. "I see thir's no hopp."

Sc. usages:

I. n. Phrs.: 1. in houp(s), followed by inf., in the hope, in expectation. Gen.Sc. Arch. in Eng.; 2. nae houp bit, no alternative to (Sh., Abd., Kcd. 1957). Cf. Ho; 3. to be hopeful that, to hope that (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 32). Gen.Sc.1. Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 38:
They tend the flock in houp to get the fleece.2. Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 26:
Some o' the young fowk beet to hae some bannocks, an' the wife hid nae houp bit bake some.3. Sc. 1706 Acts Parl. Scot. XI. App. 179:
Their Lordships are hopefull that the Lords Commissioners for England are convinced of the real difficulties.Sc. 1728 Rec. Conv. Royal Burghs (1885) 474:
To have the observance of the staple contract enforced whereby wee are hopefull such manufactures will rise in their value.Abd. 1894 G. Greig Mains's Wooin' (1909) 38:
She'll nae doot feel't some at first, but I'm hopefu' she'll get owre the thing by-and-by.

II. v. 1. Used in narrative followed by a pa.t. in contexts indicating disappointment or frustration with an emphatic force = would you believe it!, blow me if . . . didn't . . .! (Abd., Kcd., Ags., Dmf. 1957).Sc. 1840 G. Webster Ingliston xxviii.:
. . . made her drink that on the tap o' the sauts, an' I houp the gin garr'd the sauts geal on the stamach, and the lass was a corp in six hours.Abd.²⁷ 1950:
I bade in aa day waitin on him, an I hope he never turned up. Efter I had gane back aa that road, I hope I'd forgotten the key.

2. Pa.p. in phr. to be better hoped, to be more hopeful.Ags. 1896 Barrie M. Ogilvy ii.:
The Dr says this morning that he is better hoped now, but at present we can say no more but only she is alive.