Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DEEPIN, n. Also deepen, †dipin, †dippen.
Sc. usages of Eng. deeping, a section of a fishing-net:
1. Of a drift net: a section of net twenty meshes deep, to which other sections are attached to the requisite depth (Ayr. 1940 (per J. McCrindle)).Sc. 1825 Anon. Writer's Clerk I. 85:
If Effy Runners comes in wi' any Deepings, be sure to count the meshes, and weigh them.Arg. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 VII. 32:
The ordinary train, however, consists of 36 nets, each net being formed of smaller nets called breadths or dippens of twelve yards in length, and two in breadth.
2. Of a trawl net: “a strengthening band along the sole, a score of meshes deep, the meshes of this band being made of heavier twine than the rest of the net” (Arg.1 1926).Arg.1 1940:
“Oor traal fouled the bottom and the left wing catchit a rock and tore alang the deepin for aboot ten fathum.”
3. “The bag of a salmon-net” (Lth. 1825 Jam.2, dipin).
4. Fig. in pl. in phr. out o' one's deepens, out of one's depth.Fif. 1901 “G. Setoun” Skipper of Barncraig 200:
Let's crack about something else; for ye're out o' your deepens.
5. Comb.: deepin workers, net weavers (Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems, Gl.).
[Dipin, a section of a fishing net one fathom in depth, is found in O.Sc. (Arg.), 1685, from Eng. deeping (1615).]
