Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866-1943
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CLYPE, Clipe, Cleip, n.2 and v.2 [kləip]
I. n.
1. "A rather large piece, as a clype of fadge" (n.Ant. 1924 "N. Antrim" in North. Whig (14 Jan.)); "a large cut of meat" (Uls. 1931 "Comber" in North. Whig (7 Dec.) 9/6).Ant. 1892 Ballymena Observer (E.D.D.):
That pig has torn a big clipe oot o' my dress.
2. "An unseemly mass or clot of any liquid, semi-liquid, or soft wet substance; a pendent disordered wet mass" (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 28; Bnff.2 1936). Cf. Clypach, n.2 (1). In pl.: sea anemones (Ags. 1960).
3. "Work [performed] in an ungraceful, dirty manner amongst liquid, semi-liquid, or soft substances; walking in an ungraceful, dirty manner" (Ib.). Cf. Clypach, n.2 (2).
4. Fig. (1) "an ugly, ill-shaped fellow" (Bch., Mearns 1825 Jam.2; also Abd.19 1936); "a person scanty of good manners, who has little in him, as the people say, but what the 'Ram-horn spoon puts'" (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 137, clipe); Curriehill adds: "filthy and most ungracious"; "a greedy person that would lick plates on the sly" (Kcb.4 c.1900); †(2) "a drudge" (Abd. 1825 Jam.2). Cf. Sclype.(1) Bnff.2 1943:
Fa wid hae onything t' dae wi' yon muckle ill-faurt clype o' a chiel?Ags.(D) 1922 J. B. Salmond Bawbee Bowden xiii.:
The impident cleip; she'll no' do muckle o' a trade, yon smatchet.
II. v.
1. To work or walk in a slovenly manner (Bnff.2, Abd.22 1936). Ppl.adj. clypin', clumsy or dirty at work.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 29:
She geed clypin' up the street wee a basket on her airm.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 29:
That's a fool clypin' trailach o' a dehm. A widna like t' eat faht she macks.
†2. "To act as a drudge" (Abd. 1825 Jam.2).
3. To flap (as of wet and disordered clothing).Bnff.2 1936:
Jean cam' in weet t' the skin, an' her wincey quite [petticoat] clype, clypet aboot her queets wi' a wecht nae ordinar'.
