Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡GNAPPER, v., n. Also gnopper, knaper.

I. v. To snap, bite.Bch. 1928 per Abd.¹⁵:
That's a nesty gnapperin beast, he gnappers an' bites.

II. n. In phrs. gnipper for gnapper (gnopper), bit by bit, every bit (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.; Bnff.⁴ 1927), (ilka) gnipper an' gnapper, — kniper and knaper, every morsel (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis; Sc. 1911 S.D.D.; Bnff.⁴ 1927) and, preceded by neg., gnipper nor gnapper, not a bite, not a morsel.Mry. 1806 R. Jamieson Ballads II. 239:
They cowpit him then into the hopper, And brook his banes, gnipper for gnopper.Abd. 1920 R. H. Calder Gleanings 12:
He ate it ilka gnipper an' gnapper.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 83:
Aw've a fine yallow haddock to yer tay . . . Gin yer ahin yer time nae ae gnipper nor gnapper o' 't 'll een o' ye get!