Also 8 Sc. succar-sap, s.w. dial. zugar-zop. [f. SUGAR sb. + SOP sb.1]
† 1. pl. A dish composed of steeped slices of bread, sweetened and sometimes spiced. Also fig. (Earlier † sugared sops: see SUGARED ppl. a. 1.)
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv. (1586), III. 175. Two drougs … the one of which or both, the Courtier vsing, may long time maintaine himselfe in his Princes fauour: These are abstinence, or else suger soppes.
1592. Greene, Disput., Wks. (Grosart), X. 277. A quart of Sugar sops.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 903. You should supply them [bees] with Honey,… give grapes or figs bruised or pounded together, and sugar-sops.
1660. H. More, Myst. Godl., X. xiv. 540. Being poisoned or intoxicated with the unwholsome sugar-sops of Antinomianism and Libertinism.
1663. Pepys, Diary, 17 April. It being Good Friday, our dinner was only sugar-sopps and fish.
1671. Eachard, Observ. Answ. Cont. Clergy, 5. Sugar-Sops and Soft Jellies.
1729. [Hippisley], Flora, I. iv. (ed. 3), 17. Come along Child, and I’ll get thee a little Zugar-zops to comfort thy Bowels.
a. 1776. Wren, in Herd, Coll. Anc. & Mod. Sc. Songs, II. 210. In came Robin Red-breast,… Wi’ succar-saps and wyne.
attrib. 1742. J. Yarrow, Love at First Sight, Prol. His Mouth b’ing stopt with Sugar-Sop Preferment.
2. The West Indian Sweet-sop, Anona squamosa.
1847. Mrs. R. Lee, Afr. Wanderers, v. 67. West Indian fruits, such as the delicious cherry, the sugar sop, sour sop, &c.
