Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
†DRAPPER, n. 1. Sc. form of Eng. dropper, one who drops seeds into the holes made by a dibbler.Sc. 1763 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 117:
We saw [him] measure an exact peck of potatoes; and which we then saw planted with the dible and drapper.Sc. 1770–72 A. Hunter Georgical Essays (1803) II. 356:
An active dibbler . . . with three droppers at sevenpence per day.
2. A kind of potato.Ayr. 1833 J. Kennedy G. Chalmers 150:
Till
the Bailie's peat-stack tells An'ra Luggiehead's tattie-bing, hoo mony
drappers it has wasted to the foul thief for naething! Lnk. a.1854 W. Watson Poems (1877) 133:
Tho' our Reds, Cups, an' Drappers, an a' tak the gee, 'Tis the hardiest meal that comes through the mill-ee.
