Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

DILP, n. and v. Also delp.

1. n. †(1) “A trollop, a slattern” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.); “a thriftless housewife” (E.D.D.).Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads I. 294:
Young Bess was her mammie's ae dother, Though neither a dilp nor a da.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Rock and Wee Pickle Tow xiv.:
But I see that but spinning I'll never be bra', But gae by the name of a dilp or a da.Abd. 1876 R. Dinnie Songs 105:
But thae daft delps, the yowls an' yowts they gie, Wad scare gude-fearin' decent fowks like me.

(2) “A heavy, lumpish person” (Per. 1900 E.D.D.).

(3) A limp (Ags. 1911 in Per. Constit. Jnl. (13 Feb.)).Ags. 1946 Forfar Dispatch (3 Oct.):
Aiven if I hed a dilp, it's my hands I write wi, no my feet.

2. v. “To walk with long steps; to stalk” (E.D.D. Suppl.); to stump, hobble.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) i.:
Awa' he [man with wooden leg] gaed dilpin'.Per. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.:
Fat are ye dilpin' thro' the room for?

Hence dilper, a lame man who uses a crutch (Ags.¹⁷ 1940).