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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STAP, n.⁴ Also stapp, staup, stawp; and by analogy with Stap, n.¹, step (Ayr. 1891 H. Johnston Kilmallie I. 96). A stave of a wooden pail, cask, drinking-vessel, etc. (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 686, stapp; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1971). Also fig. Also in n.Eng. dial.Edb. 1713 W. Mitchel New way of Electing Magistrates 1:
Now follows the long Leit of Magistrates. I shall lay aside the old Staps, and make a new Leit of new Timber.Sc. 1752 Session Papers, Shaws v. Earl of Hopetoun (20 Feb.) 12:
An additional Stap has been put into the Dish.Sc. 1774 Weekly Mag. (1 Jan.) 23:
Quaffs, a few of which were of silver, some of pewther, but the most part were of staps neatly girded together.Sc. 1821 Blackwood's Mag. (Jan.) 432:
Stoups are needed, tubs, and pails, and knaps, For all the old are ‘gisand' into staps.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 307:
That gird round the “laggin,” or “staps” which compose the sides of the bottom of any vessel.Kcb. 1907 Gallovidian No. 33. 32:
The cowt in the stall stood stiff as a stap.

Phrs. (1) to fa aa staps, to be or gang aa to staps, to fall to pieces, lit. and fig., to disintegrate physically or morally, to go to ruin (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); (2) to tak a stap out o one's bicker or cog, to reduce the size of one's dish, hence fig. to cut down one's allowance or expenditure, “to cut down to size,” to humble (s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl., -bikker; Sc. 1808 Jam., -coag; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Kcb. 1929). See also Bicker, Cog, n.¹, 3. (10).(1) Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 119:
I wus he mayna fa aa staps, or gang a gray gate.Rxb. 1845 T. Aird Old Bachelor 10:
The trade of the village cooper is gone to “staps”.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 21:
Ma wesheen-tub is geizent. It's gaen aa ti staps.(2) Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man I. iv.:
Gin I had the heffing o' them, I sude tak a staup out o' their bickers.Edb. 1828 M. & M. Corbett Tales & Leg. III. 325:
She [a mare]'s as skeigh as yoursell; we maun tak a staup out o' her cog.wm.Sc. 1868 Laird of Logan App. 518:
Gin ye fa' into a stepmither's hands, she'll tak a step out o' your cog.Kcb. 1893 Crockett Raiders xxxv.:
We maun tak' a stap oot o' yer bicker, my lad!