Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TIPPENCE, n. Also tippens; and reduced form ¶tip'ce (Per. 1857 J. Stewart Sketches 44). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. twopence (Ayr. 1785 Burns Holy Fair viii., Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 72; Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch xxv., Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 13; Fif. 1937 St Andrews Cit. (24 April) 4; Abd. 1941 C. Gavin Black Milestone xiii.). Gen.Sc.; with the indef. art. applied hist., as in Eng., esp. in proverbial phrs., to a small silver coin worth two (pre-decimal) pennies, since 1662 only issued as Maundy Money. [′tɪpɪns]Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xxxv.:
A wheen silver tippences to the poor folk.Sc. 1820 Scott Letters (Cent. Ed.) VI. 159:
I care not a bent twopence about their quarrell.Kcd. 1819 J. Burness Plays, etc. 288:
He aff does trot, As merry as a tippens.