Hi Loretta - The Dictionary of the Scots Language [www.dsl.ac.uk] gives several spellings and examples of WAPPENSHAW which literally meant "weapon-showing" It referred either to a "periodical muster or review of the men under arms in a particular lordship or district" - which seems to be your case - or to a festive tournament or contest of weapon-skills **Gsw.* *1704* /Burgh Rec. Gsw./ (B.R.S.) 388: They are ordinarily warned by the toun officers to weapon shawing. **Sc.* *1720* R. Wodrow /Sufferings/ ii. iv. s.3: By many former Laws Weapon-shewing, and the fencible Men in every Shire, their being armed for their own Defence, is declared to be the Privilege of Scotsmen. **Sc.* *1828* Scott /F. M. Perth/ iii.: The best wrestler, sword-and-buckler player --- the king of the weapon-shawing. **Sc.* *1847* /Tait's Mag./ (July) 455: The people were wont to be assembled down to a very late period, for the weapon-schawings annually, in the months of June and October. **Per.* *1905* G. Wilson /Glover Incorp./ 13: On one of these occasions of wappen schawing a serious riot took place. **Sc.* *1949* W. M. Mackenzie /Sc. Burghs/ 136: Burgesses had to take their part in "weapon-showing" as liable to a levy in time of war, but the custom was to do so of themselves, not as part of the shire display. **Sc.* *1816* Scott /O. Mortality/ ii.: The sheriff of the county of Lanark was holding the wappenschaw of a wild district. **Slk.* *1835* Hogg /Tales/ (1874) 681: He was a principal man at weapon-shaws, excelling every competitor. **Dmb.* *1868* J. Salmon /Gowodean/ ix.: Of "wapen-schaw," and rustic game, Which twined with art the patriot's flame. **Abd.* *1873* P. Buchan /Inglismill/ 55: Then cam' racin', playin' at the ba', An' arrow-shootin' at the waponschaw. **Kcb.* *1900* Crockett /Black Douglas/ xiv.: I also won the swording prize at the last wappenshaw. **Sc.* *1957* /Early Rec. Abd./ (S.H.S.) cxlvii.: The military measures enacted by the parliaments of James I prescribed "wappin-schaws" within the burghs four times a year and detailed the arms and armour to be worn by burghesses. (2) /Fig/. A rally or turnout of supporters of a cause. [O.Sc. /wapynschawing/, = *I*., 1424, /wapin-schaw/, = *II*. *1*., 1503, 'a weapon-show', from Wappen <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/snda4frames.php?xref=yes&searchtype=full&dregion=form&dtext=all&sset=1&fset=20&query=Wappen> + Shaw <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/snda4frames.php?xref=yes&searchtype=full&dregion=form&dtext=all&sset=1&fset=20&query=Shaw>, /v/.^1 , /n/.^1 ] I've also found on-line a quote from a 26 May 1640 letter from Earl Marischal to the Provost & Baillies of Aberdeen, asking them to rally the citizenry to support his troops, then fighting on the Covenanter side - which suggest that such "weapon-showings" could have a serious military importance: "My very loveing freinds, these ar to show zow that I intend (God willing) on Thursday nixt, in the eftirnoone, to be at Abirdeine, quhair I will bring with me generall Maior monro and his regiment, for quhome I pray zow cause prowyd victuallis for the payment... And with all ye sail be in armes, and meitt ws at the brig of Dee, that we may joyne for defense of your toune, and of so many honest men as sail be fund thairin, and for the peace of the cuntrie about. But *I wish ze be better conveened** nor ze were at last wappin showing."* Best regards John Loretta Layman wrote: > I'm stumped. The Scots Dictionary doesn't have a word spelled even remotely like "walpynshawin". In the papers of the Montgomerys, Earls of Eglinton is a document with the heading "The WALPYNSHAWING of Conynghame, held on the Burgh Muir of Irvin, 15th October 1532". The only clue is that it was a meeting or gathering of lairds and their tenants held by the Earl, and I'd love to know its purpose.

The word "wappinschaw" is still in regular use in Scotland in the context of bowling. It is their preferred title for a match. see: http://www.croftheadbowlingclub.co.uk/syllabus%20apr%20-%20june.html and http://www.s1beith.com/news/from-the-heralds-beith-news-of-july-29-2009.html Genial Jack ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Humphrey" <humphreyjohn@rogers.com> To: "Loretta Layman" <lynneage@h-o-l.com> Cc: <AYRSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 5:52 AM Subject: Re: [AYR] Definition of Walpynshawing > Hi Loretta - > > The Dictionary of the Scots Language [www.dsl.ac.uk] gives several > spellings and examples of WAPPENSHAW which literally meant > "weapon-showing" It referred either to a "periodical muster or review > of the men under arms in a particular lordship or district" - which > seems to be your case - or to a festive tournament or contest of > weapon-skills > Loretta Layman wrote: >> I'm stumped. The Scots Dictionary doesn't have a word spelled even >> remotely like "walpynshawin". In the papers of the Montgomerys, Earls of >> Eglinton is a document with the heading "The WALPYNSHAWING of Conynghame, >> held on the Burgh Muir of Irvin, 15th October 1532". The only clue is >> that it was a meeting or gathering of lairds and their tenants held by >> the Earl, and I'd love to know its purpose. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AYRSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Oh that's funny Jack. I know it's been used sometimes in the past in the context of various kinds of competition, but ... bowling? Too cute. Loretta -----Original Message----- From: Jack [mailto:genial.jack4@ntlworld.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 7:27 AM To: John Humphrey; Loretta Layman Cc: AYRSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [AYR] Definition of Walpynshawing The word "wappinschaw" is still in regular use in Scotland in the context of bowling. It is their preferred title for a match. see: http://www.croftheadbowlingclub.co.uk/syllabus%20apr%20-%20june.html and http://www.s1beith.com/news/from-the-heralds-beith-news-of-july-29-2009.html Genial Jack