An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Schöps

by Friedrich Kluge

Schöps, masculine, ‘wether, mutton, simpleton,’ an East Middle German and Bavarian word (unknown to Hessian, Rhenish, and Franconian), from Middle High German schöpeȥ, schopeȥ, masculine, ‘wether, mutton’; borrowed in the Middle High German period from Slavonic. Compare Czech skopec, ‘wether,’ Old Slovenian skopĭcĭ, ‘eunuch,’ allied to skopiti, ‘to castrate.’