Forms: α. 6– sup, 6–7 suppe, 7 supp. β. 7 soope, 7–8 (9 dial.) soop, soup, (8 Sc. soupe, 9 dial. sowp, zoop). [f. SUP v.1
There is no evidence of continuity with OE. súpa (cf. MLG. sûpe, early mod.Du. zuipe, Du. zuip, ON. súpa).
The isolated instance of sense 2, unless it be a misprint, is difficult to account for.]
1. A small quantity of liquid such as can be taken into the month at one time; a mouthful; a sip. (Also in fig. context.)
α. 1570. Levins, Manip., 189/37. A Suppe, sorbillum.
1621. Fletcher, Pilgrim, IV. i. I’le bring you a sup of Milk shall serve ye.
1657. J. Watts, Scribe, Pharisee, etc., III. 71. A sup of wine (as a morsel of bread) may do well enough.
1710. Brit. Apollo, III. No. 47. 3/1. To see this Brave Army Engage; And to Swallow up, The Allies at a sup.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 82. I went to my little Store and took a small Sup of Rum.
a. 1764. Lloyd, Fam. Ep. to J. B., Poet. Wks. 1774, II. 40. With so much wisdom bottled up, Uncork, and give your friends a sup.
1840. Thackeray, Paris Sk.-bk., v. (1872), 49. Taking a small sup at the brandy-bottle.
1872. Calverley, Fly Leaves, On the Brink, ix. A sup Of barley-water.
1888. W. S. Gilbert, Yeom. Guard, I. Who sipped no sup, and who craved no crumb.
β. 1633. Orkney Witch Trial, in Abbotsford Club Miscell., 152. The powre woman sent in to the said Robertis house, and got ane soup off milk from his wyff.
1662. Tuke, Adv. Five Hours, I. 10. A soop of Chocolate Is not amiss after a tedious Journey.
1667. Dryden, Tempest, II. i. Here’s another soop to comfort us.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, III. 7.
| These Drinks o’er my fancy no more shall prevail, | |
| But I’ll take a full soop at the merry Milk-pail. |
1785. Burns, Cotter’s Sat. Nt., xi. The soupe their only Hawkie does afford.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xviii. It’s the part of a kind son to bring her a soup o’ something that will keep up her auld heart.
1851. Sternberg, Northampt. Dial., Soop, a sup, drop.
b. Phr. (A) bit (later bite) and (a) sup, a little food and drink. So bit or sup, neither bit nor sup.
1665. in Verney Mem. (1904), II. 244. I save [? have] a bitt and supp bye myselfe 2 owers after them.
1818. Lady Morgan, Autobiog. (1859), 148. The moment … we had swallowed our ‘bit and our sup,’ out we sallied.
1865. G. Macdonald, Alec Forbes, 15. I’ll tak her in wi’ my ain bairns, an’ she s’ hae bit and sup wi’ them.
1880. Browning, Dram. Idyls, Ser. II. Pietro, 233. Lodging, bite and sup, with—now and then—a copper … is all my asking.
1902. Violet Jacob, Sheep-Stealers, ix. The pleasant offer of a bite and a sup.
c. transf. Drink. dial.
a. 1810. Tannahill, Poor Tom, Poems (1846), 109. Poor Tom loves his sup, and poor Tom is despised.
1876. Whitby Gloss., Sup, Suppings, Sups, drink of all kinds.
d. A good sup: a fair amount, a considerable quantity (of liquid). dial.
1601. Archpriest Controv. (Camden), II. 173. If a cow give a good soope of milke, she is to be thanked.
1848. Anne Brontë, Agnes Grey, i. [Of a fall of rain] It’s comed a good sup last night too.
1872. Hartley, Yorksh. Ditties, Ser. I. 97. They reckon to brew a gooid sup o’ ale in October.
† 2. = SOP sb.1 1. Obs. rare.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., II. viii. vi. 82. He muste … eate a sup or shewe made with grated breed & almandes [orig. panatellam fariolam amigdalatam … confectam].
