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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RIP, v., n.¹ Also Sc. forms: rup (Lnk. 1889 A. MacLachlan Songs 19); †ripe; dim. rippich, ripple. Sc. usages:

I. v. 1. As in Eng., to tear, rend, slit, etc. Specif. in ppl.adj. ripped, of a sheep: having a narrow rent or slit cut in the ear as an identification mark.Kcb. 1880 J. H. Maxwell Sheep-Marks 15:
Topped on both ears, ripped on near.

2. To strip off turf before digging. Derivs. ripper, a flat spade used for this purpose, rippin-spade, id. (Sh. 1968).Wgt. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ III. 318:
Pairing, or, as it is here called ripping and burning the sod, and spreading the ashes.Sh. 1900 Shetland News (1 Sept.):
He begood ta rip an' dell wi' da spade.Sh. 1960 Shetland Hamefarin 14:
An you böst ta fin da tushker An da spade an ripper tö.

3. With out or doun, to take out or undo knitted work. Gen.Sc. Also in dim. form ripple (Sc. 1887 Jam.).Sc. 1887 Jam.:
To rip out a stocking.

4. To move with speed and vigour, to rush (Sh. 1968). Also in U.S. and Eng. dial.Sh. 1958 New Shetlander No. 48. 13:
Maggie cam rippin oot troo da porch.

5. To pour out a torrent of abuse, to curse, swear, use profanity (Gall. 1904 E.D.D.). Also in Eng. dial.Kcb. 1890 A. J. Armstrong Musings 43:
Yellin' oot, he rip'd an' swore.

6. To fish with a line having attached to it a heavy metal bar fitted with hooks. Vbl.n. ripping, fishing in this way; deriv. ripper, the tackle used for this (I., n. and em.Sc.(a) 1968).Bnff. c.1930:
I vrocht aa efterneen at the ripper, bit I hid nae luck.n.Sc. 1946 Abd. Press & Jnl. (2 July):
The primitive method of fishing with dandy lines, consisting of ripper and hooks.Mry. 1966 Northern Scot (12 Nov.):
By means of ripping and attempting to foul hook.

II. n. 1. A torn piece of clothing, a shred, rag, tatter (Abd. 1925, rip(pich)).

2. A sheep-mark, being a narrow slit cut in the ear (Ork. 1910 Old-Lore Misc. III. i. 24, 1929 Marw.).Ork. 1730 MS. per A. Fenton:
On the Ripe marke . . . 4 [sheep].Ork. 1770 J. Shirreff Agric. Ork. (1814) 132:
A rip in the left lug and a bit before.

3. The act of sawing wood, etc., along the grain (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Sh., n.Sc., Per., wm.Sc. 1968); a guiding mark on wood for the saw to follow (Watson).

4. A child's word for the mouth (Fif. 1968). Sc. slang.Fif. 1959 I. and P. Opie Lore and Language 194:
Shut yer rip = Close your trap.

5. A rush, speed, velocity (Sh. 1968). Also in Eng. dial. Cf. v., 4.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 13:
He comes for da door wi' a rip what he's fit.Sh. 1931 Shet. Almanac 194:
He made a rip fur him an' flang him oot.