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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WHAUP, n.², v.² Also quhaup (Jam.). For n.Sc. forms see also Faup. [ʍɑ:p, ʍǫ:p]

I. n. 1. The seed-pod of a leguminous vegetable, a shell or husk (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Abd., Lth. 1974), esp. one before the peas have begun to develop or after they have been shelled (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Abd., Kcd. 1825 Jam.), an empty husk, applied in a transf. sense in quot. to the milkless teats of a cow.Abd. 1839 A. Walker Deil at Baldarroch 11:
The lassie fun' she'd got toom whaps, Whan she began to drag her paps.

Adj. whaupie, like a pea-pod, in comb. whaupie-mou'd, having a mouth like a split pod, i.e. with a protruding under-lip. Cf. shal-mou'd s.v. Shell, n.¹, 1. (2). But phs. associated with sense 2. (2).Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 22:
Yon whaupie-mu'd fleip that took to his heels.

2. (1) A tall, scrawny person (Abd., Slg., Wgt. 1974), esp. in phr. lang (teem) whaup (Abd. 1920).Abd. 1889 Bon-Accord (27 July) 9:
Anither lang whaup o' a chiel.Abd. 1972 D. Toulmin Hard Shining Corn 27:
His foreman, a lang teem whaup wi' freckles and a red heid.

(2) In contemptuous use: a worthless person, a scamp, scoundrel (Kcd. 1825 Jam., quhaup; Ags., sm.Sc. 1974). Dim. whappie.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 15:
He ca'd Sandy for a' the impident whaups that ever travelled.Ags. 1920 D. H. Edwards Muirside 256:
Tak care an' no break the coo's legs, ye drucken whaup.

II. v. 1. To form or send forth pods, of a plant.n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
Peas are said to whaup or be whauped, when they assume the form of pods.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
The peis are whaupin' weel.

2. To shell peas (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.).