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.
Rippil(l)is, Riples, -is, n. or n. pl. Also: ripils, reples. [Of doubtful origin. Cf. e.m.E. rippill a slight cut, scratch or mark (1666), f. late ME and e.m.E. reple (15th c.), ripple (1570) to scratch slightly (‘of Scand. origin. Cf. Norw. ripla to scratch, etc.’ (OED)). Cf. also later Sc. dial. ripple(s ‘a disease affecting the back and loins, popularly associated with sexual excesses’ (SND, s.v. Ripple n.2). See also Rippill n.2]c1500 Rowll Cursing 58 (M).
Rumbursin riplis [Bann. rippilis] and bellethraw 1533 Boece 415b.
Be continuale imperceptible flux of his naturale generacioun (quhilk we call the passioun of the rippillis) he was ouresett 1588 Crim. Trials I ii 164.
The trimbling fewer, the palp, the rippillis, and the flexus [sic] c1590 J. Stewart 240 §163.
Lecherie lay duyning in ane nuik, Both in the goir, the ripils, and the bruik 1596 Lowe Spanish Sicknes ii 4.
This sickness is called in our tongue the reples 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 14 May.
Scho anserit scho cureit him, bot that it wes the rippillis quhilk he hed as scho knew be his watter thik and quhyte lyk syit sowanis 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. i 36.
Priests diseased of the riples, Hirpling through the streets like criples
