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.
Quotation dates: 1806, 1920-1929
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‡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!
