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.
Quotation dates: 1768-1806, 1876-1946
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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).
[Phs. imit. Sense (1) of the n. may be a different word of unknown origin.]
