Defending champions Queen's Park retained the cup and won the competition for the fifth time after they beat Dumbarton 3–1 in a replayed final which saw Dr John Smith score the first Scottish Cup final hat-trick on 9 April 1881.

[1][2][3] As with the previous competitions, the eighth edition of the Scottish Cup took on the format of a traditional knockout tournament.

[3] For the earlier rounds, the names of competing teams were placed into lots according to their districts and drawn into pairs.

The home team for each tie was determined by the toss of a coin unless it was mutually agreed or only one of the two clubs drawn against one another had a private ground.

Sources:[16] Glasgow University and South Western received a bye to the fourth round.