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.
SCOUP, n., v. Also skoup. Sc. variant spellings and usages of Eng. scoop (Ags. 1875 J. C. Guthrie Strathmore 110). For Sc. forms see Scuip. [skʌup, skup]
I. n. 1. A spout or projecting lip of a vessel.Sc. 1821 Blackwood's Mag. (June) 323:
Some brew their drinks in jugs, with forward scoup.
2. A draught of liquor (Jam.); a spoonful, mouthful.Cld. 1880 Jam.:
A skoup o' parritch.
II. v. 1. With aff, up: to quaff, drink off a draught of liquor, to toss off (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.); to sup (Cld. 1880 Jam.).Ags. 1891 Brechin Advert. (31 March) 3:
He scoupit up a gill.
2. To bale (a boat) (Bnff. 1904 E.D.D.).
3. Of chickens in the act of hatching: to break through the egg-shell (Cai. 1921 T.S.D.C., Cai. 1948).
[O.Sc. skowp, a baling vessel, 1512. The phonology is somewhat uncertain but suggests derivation from Mid.Du. schoppe, one of the origins of Eng. scoop. Cf. Dowp, Howp, Scowp, etc., and note to Scuip.]
