A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Shirp, Shirpe, v. [‘Appar.’, (SND, s.v. Shirp, v., after OED), ‘a variant of sherp‘ S(c)harp v. ‘In the ppl. adj. the more common form is shilpit‘ Schilpit.] v. intr. Only in to shirp away, to shrivel, wither. —1611-57 Mure Psalmes cxxix.
Be they As grasse vpon the howsses' top, Ere shott which shirps away 1662 Highland P. III 27.
And if they gett not means they will shirpe away c1680 McWard Contendings 146.
Even professors sat-up, shirped away, and cryned into a shadow
