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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CLEP, KLIP, Clipp, Klepp, Clipe, n.¹ and v.  Sc. forms and usages of Eng. clip. The Eng. form is illustrated only where the meaning is peculiar to Sc. [klɛp, klɪp]

I. n. Also found in n.Eng. dial. (E.D.D.).

1. “A gaff; wooden stick with a large iron hook at the end of it, used by fishermen in spiking a large fish when drawn above the surface of the water” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), klepp; 1914 Angus Gl., klip; Abd.¹⁹ 1937; Wgt. 1936 (per Kcb.⁹), clep; Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn., clip). Gen. clip in this sense.Sc. 1726 W. Macfarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 202: 
At each side of the catarect or line out of which the fishers take them with their clipps or large hooks.Ork. 1883 R. M. Fergusson Rambling Sketches xii.:
The eager fishermen pulled the great majority of the fish aboard with clips.Mry. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ VIII. 557:
Among the rocks, long iron hooks, here called clips, are used for catching the fish.Arg.¹ 1937:
I've a big fish on: I can't land him on the snood: stand by with the clip.

Combs.: (1) clip-gaud, id.; (2) clippet hook, id.(1)Sc. 1827 T. D. Lauder Wolfe of Badenoch II. xvi.: 
My clip-gaud lacketh pointing.(2)Bwk. 1839 Proc. Bwk. Nat. Club (1885) 225: 
The large fish are hooked when they reach the surface of the water, and drawn into the boat by means of a clippet or large hook fastened to the end of a stick.

2. (See quot.) Hist.Abd. 1881 W. Paul Past and Present Abdsh. 47:
It was part of the beadle's duty to put dogs out [of church]. For this purpose he kept an instrument called a clip, of the construction of a smith's tongs, and having long wooden handles with a joint near the point by which, without injury to himself, he could lay hold of the intruding animal and drag him out.

3. In pl.: (1) An adjustable curved iron handle for suspending a pot over the fire, “formed of two interlocked halves” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Sometimes written clipse. Cf. bools s.v. Bool, n.²Sc. 1737 Ramsay Proverbs 47:
Maybe your Pot may need my Clips.Sc. 1830 W. Bennet Traits and Stories Sc. Life (1832) III. 73:
Letting go the foot of the pot, suffered it to fall . . . with a “bang,” which forced the cleps out of her hand.Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders xiii.:
This ball swung clear of the cliff, so that Bell had to take the cleps (or crooked links which were used for hanging the porridge pot upon the wooden crossbar of our cave fireplace), in order to draw it in.Slk. [1807] Hogg Mountain Bard (1821) 303:
Robin washed his wedding bonnet, Hang it on the clipse to dry.

(2) (a) “Tongs for holding stones when being lifted by a winch” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn., clipes); (b) (see quot.).(b) Cai.⁷ 1942:
‘E klips o' 'e taings, the discs at the end of the tongs which grip the coal.

(3) A wooden instrument for pulling thistles out of standing corn (Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems, etc., Gl.; Arg.¹1937; Uls.² 1929).Rnf. 1812 J. Wilson Agric. Rnf. 137: 
In weeding, the first of these [thistles] is pulled out with the hand, or with a simple instrument, well known in this and all the neighbouring counties, called clips.Ayr. 1787 Burns To Guidwife of Wauchope ii.: 
I turn'd the weeder-clips aside, An' spar'd the symbol dear.Ayr. 1862 J. Baxter The Kirn, etc. 27:
Save us, how he did roar, Wi' mou' sae wide, like corn clips.

II. v. To catch a dog with a “clip” (see 2, above).Abd. 1881 W. Paul Past and Present Abdsh. 56–57:
“Peter, man, canna you put out that dog?” “Na,” said Peter, “he winna gang out, Sir.” “Canna ye clip him then?” said the minister.