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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ripe, Rip, v.¹ Also: ryp(e, ryip; reip; reape. [ME rupen (once, c1205), ripe(n (c1325), OE rýpan to rob. Cf. LG ruppen, Germ. rupfen to pluck, pull.]

I. tr. A. 1. To dig (a piece of ground); to dig up, or into; to break up. Cf. 7 below.Cf. later north. Eng. dial. ripe to break, dig or plough up (ground) (1828) and mod. Sc. dial. ripe = to dig up potatoes, etc. c1420 Wynt. iv 91.
For as thai ware the grounde rypand, Off ane man [the] hevyde thai fand Ib. vi 319.
The graffe quhare this dede Pypyne lay Thai rypyd and the body soucht; … That delff thai stoppyd hastyly 1541 Aberd. B. Rec. I 453.
Bot eftirwart quhen he ripis his grond forther giue he kan get ony forthir document of grond he sal haue than be lynaris that resone will

2. To search (a place, a receptacle, or a person's clothes or pockets (for something; freq., in later use, for something or someone concealed illegally); to ransack; to rifle. Also fig. and transf.In the quot. f. Henr. Fab., rypeschaw may be interpreted as a name given to a dog.(1) c1420 Wynt. vi 807.
Than thai rypyd thare sa fast [W. And rypit in that pule sa fast] Quhill he wes fowndyn at the last a1500 Henr. Fab. 547.
How, Birkye, Berrie, Bell, Bawsie, Broun, Rype Schaw [Bann. Rypeschaw], Rin Weil, Curtes, Nuttieclyde! c1475 Wall. iv 684.
Full mekill mayne thai maid To rype the wood 1513 Doug. ii i 47.
Or forto rype that holkit hug belly [sc. of the Trojan Horse] 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 155.
We among ws ay sall … rype in faith mony pouir wedois skelf 1561 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 12.
Ȝetts and dures … bruisit up, houses rypeit … seiking ane woman a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 302/44.
Johne of the park rypis kist and ark 1572–3 Irvine Mun. II 19.
It sall nocht be lesum to the … erll … to serche seik or ryip ony houssis within the said burgh libertie and fredome 1590 Reg. Privy C. IV 491.
[They] sercheit the haill houssis … and rypit all pairtis sa narrowlie as thay could a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii 112.
Passing ships are rypit, euery one, To sie if they haif goods that ar forbiddin 1623 Peebles Gleanings 7. 1637 Dundonald Par. Rec. 419.
If his house war ryped that two elne and ane half of scourings … wold be fund into it c1680 W. Row Blair 540.
Their houses were ryped but none [sc. ministers whose arrest was ordered] was found(b) 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I 447.
The bailȝeis and thair officiars to se and rip thair innys 1538 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 196.
Gif he can preif that Robert rippit his hous wiolently ve put him in to ane amerchiament 1603 Moysie 123.
The said lord … wes rypping the houses, and searsching thame(2) 1600 Crim. Trials II 200.
Alexander Ruthvene … rypit all the buyth for powder 1672 Peebles B. Rec. II 86.
Thomas Smyth … ryped John Wallace house for muttone he allegit he wanted(3) 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 7.
Sum … told that if all ther pockets wer weill ryped [etc.] 1674 Argyll Justic. Rec. 34.
He went … to the place quher the dead corps lay quher the said John … ryped his pocketts and took furth therof what money wes wpon him 1679 Russell Account 418.
James Russell … riped all their pockets(b) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2241 (B).
Hes thow nane vthir siluer bot ane grote? Gif I haif mair schir cum and ryp [Ch. rype] my cote(4) fig. and transf. c1420 Wynt. v 589.
Syne he gert oppyn hyr and owte ta Hyr bowellys and sek in tha And rype [thaim] all oure … To se the place that he lay in 1513 Doug. x x 134.
The hyrnys of his gost He rypyt with the swerd amyd hys cost 1604-31 Craig i 41.
When I am dead, caus rype my hart sayd shee; And in the same shall Calice writen bee

3. To search (a person) in the hope of finding something concealed upon him. Also fig.Also const. for the thing sought.(1) 1464–5 Acts XII 30/2.
Serchearis at all the portis … hawand power … to serche ripe & conpell all personis … to mak gude faith that thai sal haue na monay … out of the realme 1531 Bell. Boece II 144.
Quhill his gard ripit thaim, to se gif thay had ony wappinnis hid in sum quiet place 1534 Douglas Corr. 350.
My folkis … have not riped you so wel as they shuld 1535 Stewart 48965.
This Robert … Hes rypit him, syne letters on him fand 1577–8 Reg. Privy C. II 664.
The said erllis servandis rypit this deponar, and causit him tak of sum of his claythis to let thame se that he had na letters upoun him 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 93.
Meriorie Forbes and Meriorie Gray incontinent rypit thé, and gat wpon thé the forsaid poysown 1614 Bk. Islay 159.
And thay had alsua directioun to rype Sir James his persone and cofferes 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II 423.
They … ryped him as a thiefe 1651 Johnston Diary II 60.
Hirself was ryped becaus she was my cousing 1698 in D. Hume Punishment of Crimes (1797) II 569.
You were ryped, and the said false keys … found upon youfig. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 401.
Each man had need twice a-day, and oftener, to be riped, and searched with candles(2) 1698 Macritchie Gypsies 114.
When your persones hes bein searched and ryped for stollen goods [etc.]

4. a. To look into (a matter or affair); to inquire into; to scrutinise. b. To examine (the conscience, thought processes, etc.).a. c1420 Wynt. viii 623.
As thai rypyd materys sere The cas off Scotland thai made clere 1513 Doug. xi Prol. 22.
Bot rype thy querrell and discus it plane 1533 Bell. Livy I 279/27.
He gaif to the consullis twa monethis lasere to serche and ripe the samyn [sc. this law] 1605 Reg. Privy C. VII 149.
His majesteis … ministeris … ar searcheing out and [Skene ryping the bottom of] this detestable plottb. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 14/40.
I reid that thou … rype thi mynde how every thing befell 1531 Bell. Boece II 363.
The Gret Juge that ripis the conscience … of every mannis mind 1551 Hamilton Cat. 220.
Examine discus serche and rype weil thi conscience a1599 Rollock Wks. II 271.
The eye of the Lord … goes down to the inward affections to ripe and search them, to see of what disposition every soul is

c. To find out (the truth) by investigation or examination. 1533 Boece 401.
Be tormentis inflictit to the quenis familiaris and chalmereris, [they] ripit the verite of his slachter how it was done

5. To explore or probe (a wound); to seek for (? and remove) noxious things in a wound. 1513 Doug. xii vii 53.
Oft with hys rycht hand sersis he invane To rype the owtgait of the wond sa wyde And forto seik the schaft 1550 Knox III 58.
I feir the wound be not weill rypit and thairfoir that the plaisteris be unprofitable 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 123/18.
Bot as the guid chirurgian oft dois use I meane to rype the uound befoir he heald(b) 15.. Clar. i 120.
Ane leich … did his woundis ryp attentivelie, Him conforting

B. 6. a. To take by robbery. b. To rob (a place); to plunder.Cf. early ME (intr., c1205) and OE, in these senses.a. c1650 Spalding I 277.
Monro heiring of this, … rypit and plunderit the goodis; and distroyit treis, tymber, and deallis, quhairof thair wes stoirb. 1669 Rothesay B. Rec. 167.
That quhatsumevir persounes sall … reip ortchards plantings hedgingis gairdeins or steillars of peis sall pay thrie punds of unlawe

II. intr. 7. To dig; to dig in search of something buried.The quot. f. Wynt. may be an example of to rype to (= ? to dig up completely), and so properly belong to III below. a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii 653.
Yddir scho sped but ony riste, & gert rype quhare the bodys ware c1420 Wynt. v 2917.
A mattok syne he tuk … And wyth that rypyd to the grownd

8. To make search (for something hidden or concealed).With and without const.(1) c1420 Wynt. vii 157.
In ilke famows plas, That seculare or relygyows was, He rypyd, and saw thare gret tresore Off jowellys(b) 1696 Peebles B. Rec. II 155.
Sent to watch in the back yeard, quhill the officers came to ryp(c) 1640 Red Bk. Grandtully II 140.
They sall haue pattent dores open, whomever they please to send to reape and sie quhatt they find(2) 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 309.
Thay rypit for the saidis guidis 1606 Ib. VII 721.
That ryperis shalbe appointit in every parochin to rype for stowin goodis 1623 Peebles Gleanings 5.
The … balyeis being ryping thairfoir … tuik him ridhand thairwith, and fand the boukis of the … yowis … with the said Thomas 1634 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. V 636.
Certane … nichtboures come to … his hous to rype for their scheepe … the saides searcheares rypit his howsses 1636 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 19 Jan.
Nichtbouris … seircheand and rypand thairfoir fand of the beiff of the saidis ky 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 81.
Ordaines the captaines … to send their constables … to rype throw the parochess for suspectit gudes a1689 Cleland 38.
They ripe for arms

III. With adv. compl. 9. To ripe furth or out, to bring to light; to reveal; to make known.(1) 1513 Doug. ii iii 29.
Leifful is … Thar hyd slycht als to rype furth to the grund 1528 Wemyss Chart. 277.
Rypand furth the maner of the saids teynds more profoundlie [they find, etc.] 1570 Bann. Memor. 58.
Mr. Andro Symsone … did so lyvlie rype furthe the inward cogitatiounes of my hart 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II 193.
To haue be the … due cours of law rypit furthe the grund authors, actors [etc.] … of that filthie … crueltie(2) 1582 Perth Kirk S. in J. P. Lawson The Book of Perth 145.
The ground of the slander being ryped out, it was found to proceed of the shedding of blood 1585 Calderwood IV 309.
When his majestie sall … rype out his aspyring intentioun in it 1600-1610 Melvill 37.
Desyring to heir and haiff the names of manie things, bot never weill degesting nor ryping out the nature of anie, bot fleiting and flowing, soon lyking and soon lothing Id. Propine 33.
Ryping out all the hirnes and plyes of thy heart 1606 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I 52.
I … was desirous to haue the bottome off Mr. Jhone Forbes his desseynges and ploittes ryped out(b) 1649 Hist. Fragm. III 1.
All the old condemned haresies ript out of their graves … and many more ones brocht to licht

10. To ripe up. a. To bring up again to notice or for discussion (something forgotten or put aside); to bring to light. 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii 107.
I sall rype vp the mater haill 1584–5 Cal. Sc. P. VII 564.
Sic practizes aganis oure lyff … laitlie disclosit and ryped up within our realme a1599 Rollock Wks. I 387.
May not my spreit searche in to God and rype up the deipnes that is in him? 1600 Crim. Trials II 253.
If ye rype not wp the fontaine thairof, it is a manifest tempting of God 1601 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 963.
The evill cannot be weill curit unlesse the original springs and [speciall] causes therof be rypit up 1609 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 570.
For manifestatioun heirof the ground and occasioun of this dissentioun wald be ryped up 1624 Melrose P. 581.
We haif bene verie carefull … to rype vp the whole treuthe and misterye of this mater c1630 Scot Narr. 119.
To rype up the causes of defection in all estates, … and to advise upon the remedies 1638 Henderson Serm. 220.
It is wisdom to ripe up such sins as these 1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 256.
For my parte, I presse that this proces may be ryped up againe 1651 Laing MSS I 268.
There will be a number of doubts anent their constitution that wil be ryped up agayn at on tyme or another 1657 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 235.
Not to search in a censorious way, nor to rype upp and reflect upon any heatt … in our former meettinges a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 262.
The more … self-confident they be … he doth the more sharply ripe up their inside and … expresse his abhorrencie thereof(b) 1615 Crim. Trials III 355.
The witnesses … haifing ryppit vp the haill secreit of all thair proceidingis 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 569.
Take heed … that passion … make you not rip up, delate, or censure the miscarriage of any

b. To investigate; to examine thoroughly. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 15/20.
I will the more narrowlie rype-vp the wordes 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xvi.
It restes to rype vp the rule of exemple 1621 Crim. Trials III 503.
And the forme and circumstances of the samyn being narowlie examined and ryped vp by thame(b) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 353.
When the spirit beginneth to rip up our hearts, and to discover the secrets of our hearts a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 505.
The Assembly began to rip up the causes of the defection more narrowly ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 248.
And the escapes of all such ministers wer ripped upp whilst some others … wer lettne passe without questione

c. To open up again (a wound or sore) in a hurtful manner. Only fig. 1629 Boyd Last B. 17.
A man of God, that is not curious for to ripe vp secret sores for your own curiositie a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 221.
Speak most smoothly to them, without riping up any thing of their wounds(b) a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 182.
Searched not … to make discoverie of the … corruption of hearts; and that he did not faithfully rip up their wounds, possibly fearing to displease them

d. To search (a house) thoroughly. 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 40.
Folks … quha wald rip up our housses and buthis in despyte of us