A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Slep(e)ry, -ie, Sleipry, Slipp(e)rie, -y, adj. Also: sleperye, sleip(e)rie, sleeprie. [e.m.E. slepery (1535), MLG sleperich, MLG, MDu. slaperich.] a. Of a person: Sleepy, drowsy, affected by sleep. Also fig., behaving as if affected by sleep, not alert or active.1533 Boece 148b.
Galdus … assailȝit thame half ȝit slepery and agast 1533 Boece 578b.
Murthure … was made apoun slepery bodyis lying in beddis 1535 Stewart 33214.
Tha war so drunkin and so sleipry bayth, To walk … no power had c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus Prol. 80.
[He is] [Richt sl]eiperie with nois and mouth vnclenefig. 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 287.
No sleprie hird nor errogant, Bot prudent, wyse, and vigelant(b) 1606 Rollock's Thess. 127.
Of all sorts of men … a slipprie pastor, a carelesse man in the ministrie is the worst 1640 Baillie I 242.
For the rousing up of our slipprie neighbours of England
b. Indicating sleepiness; characterised by drowsiness.1513 Doug. v xiv 52.
A ful sleipry [Ruthv. slippry, Sm. slepry, Ruddim. slepery] and bedyit grane 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 171/548.
The sleiprie [v.r. sleeprie] byting littill suarmes of many a spytefull clegge(b) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus Prol. 16.
Flewme is fat, slaw, richt slipperie & sweir
c. Sleep-inducing.1513 Doug. iv ix 28 (Ruddim.).
To the walkryf dragoun mete gaif sche … And sleperye [C., Sm. sleipryfe, Ruthv. slepery] chesbowe sede
