A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420, 1531-1650
[0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0]
Dip, v. Also: dipp, dipt. [ME. dippe, dyppe, OE. dyppan.]
1. intr. To go downward, descend. c1420 Wynt. v. 2999.
In the cove syne he … mad entre, A hwndyr greys ewyn dippand down Wndyr the erd 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xxxi.
Ane roche crag, dippand with ane lang hals in the seis
2. tr. To put into water. 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xv.
Phebus … declinand besaly To dip his steidis in the occeane 1562-3 Winȝet I. 83/13.
The baptizit … to be thryis dippit in the wattir
3. intr. To make investigation (in a matter); to touch upon, be directed against (something). 1558-66 Knox II. 451.
‘Weill,’ said Lethingtoun, ‘I will dip no farder in that heid’ 1568 Buch. Indict. 42.
Tha desistit fra ony proceding in that examinatioun, fering the furder thai diptit in it to fynd the greter perrell 1571 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 65.
His Majestie anis dippand ernestlye in the cause, it wil be easye [etc.] 1610 Calderwood VII. 142.
Seing it dipps also by name against hierarchie, I sie not how hierarchie is not contrare to that oathe 1627 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 75.
The unequall termes of the commissioun dipping onelie upon the said Erle his alledgeit possessioun without mentioun of the said Sir David his right 1628 Ib. 488.
Quhairas the maine points thairof dippes upon the bearing … of hacquebutts and pistoletts 1650 Brown Suppl. Decis. I. 394 (J).
In respect of a reason dipping upon David Gray his back bond
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Dip v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/dip>
